WALES

Devolution

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost to public funds of setting up devolved government in Wales was.

Don Touhig: The Welsh Block has not increased as a result of devolution. Any additional administrative costs arising from devolution are a matter for the Assembly.

Farm Incomes

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average farm income was in Wales, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area for each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Net incomes for all Welsh farms for each year since 1999 are published in "Estimates of Farm Incomes in Wales" and are listed as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 4,100 
			 2000–01 6,100 
			 2001–02 (1)9,100 
			 2002–03 (2)10,100 
		
	
	(1) Provisional
	(2) Forecast
	Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type of capital of the business.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of the cases listed were.

Don Touhig: None.

Dee Cockle Regulation Order

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has planned discussions with the First Minister of the National Assembly with regard to hastening progress towards the implementation of the Dee Cockle Regulation Order.

Don Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 773W, I gave assurances that both the Welsh Assembly and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stand ready to respond swiftly and positively to requests for assistance in this matter from the Environment Agency Wales. When the Environment Agency Wales submit a formal application for a Regulation order, the Government will act as quickly as possible.
	My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the First Secretary and I meet the Welsh Assembly Agriculture Secretary and DEFRA Ministers to discuss a variety of agriculture issues, including the cockle industry.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office was created in 1999. We are not able to provide a breakdown of the old Welsh Office spending but between 1997–98 and 1998–99 a total of £5,346,000 was spent on advertising.
	Between 1999–2000 and 2003–04, the Wales Office spent the following amounts:
	(a) Nothing on consultancy fees for branding
	(b) £17,964 on new designs for stationery.
	(c) £3,818 on website design.
	(d) £6,333 on other material featuring new logos.

Higher Education

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that the Higher Education Bill should exempt English students studying in higher education institutions in Wales from payment of top-up fees.

Don Touhig: The provisions of the Higher Education Bill would transfer to the National Assembly for Wales responsibility for tuition fee levels in Welsh Institutions and student support for students resident in Wales.
	The Assembly Education and Lifelong Learning Minister has given a commitment that variable fees will not be introduced in Wales during the lifetime of the present Assembly. Future policy with regard to tuition fees in Wales will be decided by the Assembly, following an independent review by Professor Teresa Rees.

Miners' Compensation

Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the most recent figure is for sums paid for compensation in (a) final and (b) interim settlements to sick miners in Wales, their widows or families for vibration white finger and respiratory diseases.

Don Touhig: As of 8 February 2004, the total compensation paid out in Wales for Vibration White Finger is £104 million and £292 million for respiratory disease.
	I will shortly write to my right. hon. Friend with a breakdown of these figures in the terms he requests and place copies in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Peter Hain: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I both travel by train on a weekly basis in connection with our ministerial duties.

Ministerial Visits

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many visits he has made to (a) prisons, (b) police forces, (c) young offenders' institutions and (d) drug rehabilitation centres in Wales since October 2002.

Peter Hain: I have visited south Wales Police Force at their headquarters in Bridgend and North Wales Police Force at their headquarters Colwyn Bay. In addition my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales has visited Gwent Police Force at their headquarters in Croesyceiliog and the "Safer Swansea" police initiative. He has also met with the Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys. I have visited one young offenders institution.

TREASURY

Benefit/Tax Credit Expenditure

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the (a) benefit and (b) tax credit expenditure in the UK for each year since 1996–97, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (A) contributory, (B) non-contributory and (C) income-related benefits.

Dawn Primarolo: The information sought on benefit expenditure is available on the Department for Work and Pensions' website, at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/Table3.xls
	The information on expenditure on working families and disabled persons tax credits from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 is presented in the Inland Revenue's Annual Reports for the years 2000–01 to 2002–03. These are available on the Inland Revenue's website, at www.inlandrevenue.go.uk.

Block Grant

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the apportionment of the block grant.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers meet Scottish Executive Ministers regularly to discuss a range of subjects.

Carbon Tax

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a carbon tax to replace existing levies.

John Healey: The Government believe the Climate Change Levy is an effective way of encouraging reductions in the use of energy and is an important policy in our climate change programme and therefore we have no plans to introduce a carbon-based tax. The EU emissions trading scheme, a tradable permit scheme that creates a market in carbon, will be introduced from 2005. Decisions on taxation policy are announced by the Chancellor in the context of his annual Budget statement.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) gave to the hon. Member on 9 February, Official Report, columns 1293–98W.
	National Savings and Investments information was not included in the central answer and therefore the information is detailed as follows:
	On 1 January 2004, National Savings and Investments employed a total of 119 staff broken down by grade as follows:
	
		
			 Range Civil Serviceequivalent grade Number 
		
		
			 SCS SCS 10 
			 A SEO/Grade 6 and 7 31 
			 B SEO/ HEO 38 
			 C EO 24 
			 D AO/AA 16 
		
	
	As of 31 March 1997, National Savings employed 4,290 full-time equivalent staff. The historical breakdown of grading is unavailable. Of the 4,290 staff, eight were SCS. This information was published in the annual report for 1996–97.

Customs and Excise

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking in relation to Customs and Excise following the most recent developments in the London City Bond and Operation Puma cases, with particular reference to its prosecution function; what steps he is taking in relation to the disclosure of information by HM Customs and Excise to the Butterfield Inquiry into this matter; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: As I announced in written statements of 15 July 2003, Official Report, column 18WS, and 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 72WS, the Government have accepted the recommendations contained in Mr. Justice Butterfield's report on his review of criminal investigations and prosecutions conducted by HM Customs and Excise, which was published in full on 15 July 2003 and is available in the Library of the House. His recommendations on the future conduct of prosecutions of cases investigated by HM Customs and Excise, including the separation of the prosecuting function from Customs (begun in April 2001 in line with the recommendations of the Gower-Hammond review in 2000–01), are being implemented with the creation of an independent Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office reporting to the Attorney-General.
	Mr. Justice Butterfield received total co-operation from Customs officers, as he recognised in his report. In the course of its review of London City Bond-related convictions last year Customs continued to trawl all areas of the Department for any material of potential relevance both to ongoing appeals against conviction and to the issues examined by Mr. Justice Butterfield. Further disclosable material that was uncovered was passed directly to the Metropolitan Police to assist their investigation into the circumstances of the collapse of the London City Bond cases and to Mr. Justice Butterfield for his consideration. Although Customs had already indicated that it would not be contesting their appeals, Customs also disclosed that material to all the appellants in the Operation Puma case on 28 January 2004.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on branding the Department, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery between 1997–98 and 2003–04, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury's branding was reviewed between 2000 and 2002. The work was undertaken by the in-house publications team, with limited assistance from freelance designers at a cost of less than £5,000.
	The relaunch of the Treasury's website in November 2001 and the move to new offices in summer 2002 meant that new branding could be incorporated incrementally at little additional cost.

EU Committees

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) duties and (b) immediate work programme of each Lamfalussy committee are; and what the United Kingdom representation on each committee is.

Ruth Kelly: The seven Lamfalussy committees are the European Banking Committee (EBC), the European Securities Committee (ESC), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Committee (EIOPC), the Financial Conglomerates Committee (FCC), the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS), the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) and the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS). The duties of the FCC can be found in Article 21 of the Financial Conglomerates Directive (2002/87/EC, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) on 11 February 2003, L35/1). The duties of the six other committees can be found in the respective Commission Decisions establishing them, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on the 7 January 2004, L3, volume 47.
	The immediate work programmes of CEBS, CESR and CEIOPS are under discussion and have not been published. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) represents the UK on each of these committees.
	The immediate work programmes of the EBC, ESC and FCC have not been published. The work programme of the EIOPC can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal market/insurance/docs/markt-2535–03-rev1/2535–03-rev1 en.pdf. HM Treasury represents the UK on each of these committees.

European Institutions

Ann Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross UK contribution to the (a) EU and (b) European institutions was in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the EC Budget and contribution to the reserves and capital of the EIB for the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03 can be found at Table 3.1 (page 14) of the 2003 European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 5800).

European Institutions

Ann Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross EU funding to the UK for (a) the Common Agricultural Policy, (b) regional funding and (c) other allocations was in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the United Kingdom's public sector receipts from the EC Budget for the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03 can be found at Table 3.2 (page 14) of the 2003 European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 5800).

Excise Duty Fraud

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the independent review of excise duty fraud levels; and when the review will be concluded.

John Healey: Following interest from the Public Accounts Committee, I have welcomed the Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn's commitment to carry out a review of the estimates of spirits duty fraud. The scope and timing of that review are a matter for him. I have ensured that he has been offered the full assistance of my officials.

Invest to Save

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have bid successfully for the Invest to Save Budget since it began; and how much each received.

Paul Boateng: The Invest to Save Budget (ISB) has allocated £385 million to 401 organisations. A table showing the list of successful bidders and the amounts they each received has been placed in the Library of the House.

Ivory

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), of 6 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1082–83W, on ivory seizures, for what reasons no prosecutions have been initiated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

John Healey: Customs will normally prosecute in those cases where a deliberate or organised attempt has been made to evade or breach for commercial gain the controls on ivory. Customs would look carefully at the circumstances of any case where seized ivory is either antique or harvested legitimately prior to the ban imposed on commercial trade in ivory from African elephants in 1990. Such ivory can be lawfully traded provided that it is accompanied by the appropriate documentation issued by the competent authorities.
	Many seizures of ivory involve a small quantity found in the possession of members of the travelling public who are shown after inquiries to have breached the controls unwittingly—for example by importing items which were on open sale and were bought in good faith, or by exporting items that have been held in the UK legitimately for some time.
	Two detections in 2001 involved commercial quantities of ivory which had been deliberately concealed. Both cases involved ivory in transit through the UK to another country of destination. Customs agreed with the law enforcement authorities in the countries of destination to allow these consignments to go forward for further investigation there. Customs have no information on the outcome of those investigations.

Ivory

Tony Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the combined weight of ivory and ivory products seized by HM Customs and Excise was in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information sought is not available. Customs' systems are not able to identify the combined weight of seized ivory or ivory products.

Large Business Office

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, columns 934–35W, on future tax yield, what design methodology was used to produce the automated system introduced in April 1998 to calculate the compliance performance of the Inland Revenue's Large Business Office; at which stage in the methodology the design faults occurred and who authorised the faulty design to proceed to the next stage of development; whether the Large Business Office's compliance performance for the year 1998–99 has been correctly recorded in Inland Revenue Annual Reports to date; whether the new reporting system was tested prior to introduction against base data from recent years to ensure that the results produced by the new automated system matched those produced by the previous unautomated system; who signed for acceptance of the new system in 1998; when the integrity of the results produced by the automated system introduced in 1998 was first questioned, and by whom; upon what dates the errors were first detected; upon what dates the matter was brought to the attention of (a) the Director Large Business Office, Internal Audit (b) the Inland Revenue Fraud Champion, (c) the Commissioner responsible for the Large Business Office, (d) the Board of Inland Revenue, (e) the Paymaster General, (f) the National Audit Office and (g) himself; whether the automated system had a purpose other than to produce a single number recording the Large Business Office's total compliance performance; how many man days of effort were required to produce the automated system as introduced in April 1998; for how long it was under development; what programming language or software package was employed; and what the cost of the system to the point of introduction was.

Dawn Primarolo: The Large Business Office (LBO) IT system was developed by a partnership of EDS and the LBO between October 1996 and November 1997 with a commercial software package, 'Composer'. The system cost £1.92 million including equipment and software licenses. The number of staff days of development is not now known. The system enabled the LBO to support and monitor their casework; it was formally accepted in 1998 by senior management of the LBO.
	There was a credibility check of the data provided early in the use of the system, and in 2000, LBO senior management asked questions about data on some individual cases. The Director asked the Inland Revenue's internal auditors to review the accuracy of data for 2001–02. Their interim report enabled some adjustment to be made to the reported figures for that year and errors in reporting future years' tax effects were eliminated for 2001–02 onwards. A follow up review of processes commissioned in 2003 revealed that some LBO caseworkers were not reporting yield in line with departmental guidance.
	The relevant Commissioner was kept fully informed throughout. The Board received a report on the issues raised by the 2003 review. Ministers were informed on 12 November 2003 of the need to correct yield figures. The NAO have discussed LBO yield as part of their current work on corporation tax. There is no information available for 1998–99.

Mineworkers Pension Fund

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in receipt of a pension from the Mineworkers Pension Fund are taxed on it; and what the tax take from fund pensions has been to date.

Ruth Kelly: No estimates are available since information on the scheme from which an individual's pension is paid is not held centrally.

Ministerial Directions

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all ministerial directions since financial year 1997–98.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 311W; to the answer given by the Economic Secretary (John Healey) on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 617W; to the answer given by the Chief Secretary (Mr. Boateng) to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1037W; the answer given by his predecessor (Mr. Andrew Smith) to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) on 8 May 2002, Official Report, column 253W; and to the previous answer he gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 73W.

Small Business Taxation

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that measures which will be introduced in the 2004–05 Finance Bill affecting the taxation of small businesses (a) reflect the regulatory compliance costs small businesses already bear, and (b) are sensitive to the needs of small companies endeavouring to expand; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The implications for business of measures announced at the Budget will be taken into account as part of the normal Budget process. The Government are committed to developing a strong enterprise economy in the UK and promoting productivity as well as encouraging innovation, investment and skills.

Stamp Duty

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money he estimates would be lost in revenue if (a) the 1 per cent. level of stamp duty for properties between £60,001 and £250,000 and (b) the 3 per cent. level of stamp duty for properties between £250,001 and £500,000 was removed. [R]

Ruth Kelly: The estimated yield from the various stamp duty consideration bands for 2002–03, the latest year for published data, is given on the Inland Revenue website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/stamp duty/03IR153.pdf.

Stamp Duty

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much stamp duty was paid in each of the last five years. [R]

Ruth Kelly: Stamp Duty receipt amounts for the years from 1997–98 to 2002–03 are published on the Inland Revenue website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/stamp duty/03IR151.pdf.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether existing tax credit claimants responding to the Department's request for information needed to finalise 2003–04 awards and, if appropriate, renew their claim for a 2004–05 award will be required to supply a P60 for 2003–04; and by which date employees are expected to receive their P60s.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 20 January 2004
	Claimants will not be required to supply their P60 for 2003–04 in order to finalise their tax credits award for that year or, if appropriate, renew their claim for 2004–05.
	Employees should receive their P60s for 2003–04 by 31 May 2004.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal By-Products Regulation

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what advice she has issued to intermediate reception centres on the definition of covered space to receive animal by-products in the Animal By-Products Regulations;
	(2)  what guidance she received from the European Commission about the definition of covered space.

Ben Bradshaw: We have received no guidance from the European Commission regarding the definition of "covered space". However, the Animal By-Products Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 requires Intermediate Plants to have a "covered space " to receive animal by-products. It also requires the plant to be constructed in such a way that it is easy to clean and disinfect, and that floors must be laid down in such a way as to facilitate the draining of liquids. The plant must also have appropriate arrangements for protection against pests, such as insects, rodents and birds. In our view, the combination of these requirements make it necessary for the plant to have a roof, walls and a floor before we can approve it. The application form for approval of an Intermediate Plant provides guidance on the requirements of the Regulation, and states that
	"the covered space must be securely enclosed, i.e. in a permanent, weather-proof, vermin-proof structure".
	However, any operation which could demonstrate that it complied with the requirements of the EU Regulation in some other way could also be approved.

Animal By-Products Regulation

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about the effect of the Animal By-Products Regulations on small abattoirs.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department undertook an extensive consultation process on the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003 No.1482). This included discussions with representatives of the abattoir industry. Organisations representing abattoirs that responded to the consultation included the Meat and Livestock Commission and the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers.
	My noble Friend Lord Whitty met with the Small Business Association to discuss the impact of the Regulation on small abattoirs and the Department also wrote to all abattoir operators with a questionnaire seeking information on the operational, structural and cost implications of the Regulation. Approximately 200 operators responded.

Animal Welfare (Wales)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent (a) representations and (b) proposals she has received from the National Assembly for Wales Government regarding the further devolution of provisions relating to animal welfare.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 February 2004
	We have been considering with the National Assembly Government further devolution of powers in the area of animal welfare and animal health for some time. Any such devolution will be subject to ratification by the UK Government.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what specific characteristics are exhibited by badger groups under population stress;
	(2)  what the effects of over-population are on the health of badger populations.

Ben Bradshaw: Central Science Laboratory studies suggest that body weight in badgers is density dependent, with lower average weights occurring as group size approaches carrying capacity. The association between body weight and badger density suggests that food is a major factor limiting badger numbers.
	The notion that badger populations are "over-populated" is erroneous. Badgers display a sophisticated regulatory mechanism, where fecundity and mortality are in equilibrium to maintain the population at a level which the habitat will support.
	There is no information linking the health status of badgers to population density. TB is known to occur in low density badger populations, and studies by Central Science Laboratory have demonstrated that there is no linear relationship between badger density and TB prevalence.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether domestic cats are susceptible to infection by M. bovis bacillus; whether any such infections have been recorded; and whether the infection can be transferred to man.

Ben Bradshaw: Like most terrestrial mammals, domestic cats are susceptible to infection by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). Cases have been recorded in Great Britain and other countries but current incidence is very sporadic. TB in cats is not notifiable although it is good practice to contact the State Veterinary Service (SVS) if it is suspected. The SVS will undertake to assist with the identification of M. bovis in any clinical or pathological specimens.
	The infection can be transferred to man, therefore, if a confirmed case of M. bovis infection in a cat comes to the attention of the SVS, the Divisional Veterinary Manager will inform the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) of the local health authority. Investigation of the TB status of any human contacts is the responsibility of the CCDC. If TB is reported in a farm cat the SVS will instigate tuberculin check tests of cattle on that farm, and of potential contacts on neighbouring premises.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken by her Department to ensure that guidelines on testing badgers for M. bovis infection before release by animal hospitals are properly observed.

Ben Bradshaw: Animal hospitals treating sick or injured badgers are not legally required to test animals for bovine tuberculosis before they are released from captivity.
	To minimise the risk of animal hospitals accidentally spreading tuberculosis Defra facilitated development of the voluntary protocol for the rehabilitation and release of badgers. This was drawn up by the RSPCA, National Federation of Badgers Groups and Secret World Wildlife Rescue. The protocol provides comprehensive guidance on the precautions necessary to protect the welfare of badgers and critically, to minimise the risk of transmitting bovine tuberculosis. The protocol is promoted by the organisations above and is available via the internet at: http://www.badger.org.uk/action/badger-rehabilitation-protocol-contents.html

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of whether infection of M. bovis bacillus between infectious female badgers and their offspring leads to an increase over time in the incidence of infection within a social group.

Ben Bradshaw: From research carried out by the Central Science Laboratory, it is believed that the transmission of infection from mothers to cubs may be important in the maintenance of TB infection in badger populations. There is a correlation between the presence of infectious females in a group and the proportion of TB positive cubs. No information is available as to whether this has influenced the incidence of infection within a social group over time.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the size of the badger population in Great Britain as reported by the National Badger Survey;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the minimum size of the badger population in the United Kingdom necessary to ensure its continued survival;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the optimum size of the badger population in the United Kingdom;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the maximum size of badger population which can be sustained in the United Kingdom;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the change in the badger population in Great Britain since the last National Badger Survey.

Ben Bradshaw: In a 1995 1 report reviewing the status of mammals in the United Kingdom, commissioned by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the badger population estimate provided by the 1980s National Badger Survey was given the highest possible rating for accuracy (one on a scale of one to five, where one is the most accurate). As the 1990s National Badger Survey 2 followed the same methodology as the earlier exercise, its results can be afforded a similar high level of confidence.
	I can confirm that the Department has not estimated any of the following population parameters for badgers in the United Kingdom:
	The minimum population size necessary to ensure its continued survival.
	The optimum size of the population.
	The maximum size of population that can be sustained.
	In the report of the 1990s National Badger Survey 2 , the authors concluded that there was "substantial scope for further badger population expansions" as badger setts were still scarce or absent in many suitable areas (especially in East Anglia and parts of Scotland). However, the authors also said that "in areas with established badger populations, it was unlikely that further significant increases would occur".
	Since there has been no national badger survey since the mid-1990s, we do not know whether the population level has changed in the interim.
	As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question, 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 1W, my Department has been funding the Winter Mammal Monitoring Project 3 which is being carried out by the Mammal Society and the British Trust for Ornithology. This is a pilot study intended to develop a terrestrial monitoring system for British mammals, including badgers. Early findings confirm the pattern of distribution reported in the National Badger Survey, but it is too early to say whether, and by how much, badger numbers have changed since the 1990s.
	1 "A review of British mammals: population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans" (1995). Stephen Harris, Pat Morris, Stephanie Wray and Derek Yalden. Published by the Joint Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough, UK.
	This publication is available online at: www.jncc.gov.uk/Publications/review britishmammals/areviewofbritishmammalsall. pdf
	2 "Changes in the British badger population, 1988 to 1997" (1997). G. Wilson, S. Harris and G. McLaren. People's Trust for Endangered Species (ISBN 1 85580 018 7)
	3 Further details and preliminary results from the Winter Mammal Monitoring Project are available online at: www. bto.org/survey/special/mammal results.htm

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) proportion of adult badgers in Great Britain currently infected with M. bovis vacillus and (b) proportion of those that are infective.

Ben Bradshaw: National data, on which such assessments would need to be based, are not available.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what grounds legal protection has been afforded to badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: The badger benefits from legal protection introduced to outlaw cruelty towards animals. For example, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, which among other things, made the baiting of animals illegal, and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, which made certain specified acts of cruelty illegal.
	In addition, there are legal restrictions on the range of methods that can be used to kill or take badgers. This protection was introduced to outlaw inhumane and/or indiscriminate methods of control. The key legislation in this respect is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Some of these restrictions apply to all animals, while others apply only to animals, like the badger, listed on schedule 6 of the Act.
	There have also been specific laws to protect badgers. These were introduced as a welfare measure to combat illegal badger baiting, and also as a conservation measure in response to declines in badger numbers in the 1970s and 1980s. The various statutes specifically relating to badgers were consolidated under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the limiting factors are on the size of the badger population in the United Kingdom in the absence of predation and intervention by man.

Ben Bradshaw: The abundance of wild animals is ultimately limited by the availability of key resources. In the United Kingdom, food and suitable sites for setts are likely to be the key constraints on the size of the badger population.

Departmental Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members of (a) the Environment Agency Board, (b) the Farm Animal Welfare Council, (c) the Food Advisory Committee, (d) Food From Britain and (e) the Harbour Commission were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is.

Alun Michael: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Name Term of office Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			 (a) Environment Agency 
			 Chair   
			 Sir John Harman 1 January 2004–31 December 2007 87,475 
			 Deputy Chair   
			 Prof. Donald Ritchie 1 July 2001–30 June 2004 32,805 
			 Ex-officio Member   
			 Lady Barbara Young 11 December 2000–10 December 2005 Unpaid 
			 Members   
			 Mr. Colin Beardwood 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 25,515 
			 Mr. Peter Bye 1 September 2003–31 August 2006 18,225 
			 Mr. Ted Cantle 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 18,225 
			 Mr. Andrew Dare CBE 1 February 2002–1 February 2005 21,870 
			 Mr. John B. Edmonds 30 May 2002–31 May 2005 21,870 
			 Prof. Richard Macrory 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 18,225 
			 Mr. Peter Matthews 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 21,870 
			 Ms Sara Parkin OBE 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 18,225 
			 Mr. Richard Percy 1 November 2003–31 October 2006 14,580 
			 Dr. Lyndon Stanton 30 May 2002–31 May 2005 21,870 
			 Mrs. Kay Twitchen 1 April 2004–31 March 2007 25,515 
			 Mr. Gareth Wardell 8 August 2000–7 August 2004 25,515 
			 Prof. Lynda Warren 10 October 2003–9 October 2006 25,515 
			  
			 (b) Farm Animal Welfare Council 
			 Chair   
			 Dr. Judy Macarthur Clark 1 December 2002–31 December 2004 199 per meeting 
			 Members   
			 Mr. Ian Douglas Baker 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Mrs. Rosemary Berry 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. John Don 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 125 per meeting 
			 Prof. Peter English 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Graham Godbold 1 October 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Edmund Harper 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. David C. Henderson 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. James William Hook 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Prof. Alistair Lawrence 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Stephen Andrew Lister 1 January 2002–31 December 2005 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Gareth Jones Lloyd 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Richard Maunder 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			 Prof. John Peter Mcinerney 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 125 per meeting 
			 Miss Miriam Jane Parker 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 125 per meeting 
			 Dr. Martin James Potter 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 125 per meeting 
			 Mrs. Barbara Smith 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			 Mr. Selwyn Michael Vaughan 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 125 per meeting 
			  
			 (c) Food Advisory Council 
			  Information on the Food Advisory Council is available from the Food Standards Agency, who report to Parliament through Health Ministers. 
			  
			 (d) Food from Britain 
			 Chair   
			 Mr. Gordon Summerfield 1 January 2003–31 December 2005 48,523 
			 Members   
			 Mr. David Baines 1 September 2003–31 August 2006 1,800 
			 Mr. John David Bevington 10 December 2002–9 December 2005 1,800 
			 Mr. Vincent Craig 1 June 2002–31 May 2005 1,800 
			 Prof. David Croisdale-Appleby 27 March 2003–26 March 2006 1,800 
			 Mr. David Dobbin 1 December 2003–30 November 2006 1,800 
			 Mrs. Christine Dunn 10 December 2002–9 December 2005 1,800 
			 Mr. Stuart Gates 1 September 2003–31 August 2006 1,800 
			 Sir Arthur Benjamin Gill 1 April 2002–31 March 2005 1,800 
			 Mr. Paul Grant 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 1,800 
			 Lady Sylvia Jay 27 March 2003–26 March 2006 1,800 
			 Mrs. Christine Lewis 1 January 2004–31 December 2006 1,800 
			 Mrs. Carolyn Newman 1 September 2003–31 August 2006 1,800 
			 Mrs. Marie Skinner 27 March 2003–26 March 2006 1,800 
			 Mr. Rudolph Tom Vyner CBE 1 April 2002–31 March 2005 1,800 
			   
			 (e) The Harbour Commission 
			  Responsibility for appointments to Harbour Commissions was transferred to the Department for Transport in October 2001.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken to deter fishermen from applying techniques which result in the distortion of standard diamond netting.

Ben Bradshaw: A number of EU technical rules have been adopted to discourage the distortion of diamond netting, including limits on the numbers of meshes allowed in the circumference of a net, a requirement for the top and bottom of codends and extension pieces to be of the same material and dimensions and restrictions on what may be attached to codends.

Disused Mines

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further action she will take to reduce emissions of methane gas from disused mines.

Alun Michael: We have secured exemption from the Climate Change Levy for electricity generated from methane from disused coal mines in the United Kingdom. This was approved by the European Commission following representation by the Government, and came into effect on 1 November 2003. My Department is sponsoring research to reduce the uncertainties associated with these emissions, and the Department of Trade and Industry has commissioned a study into possible ways to encourage the control of these emissions. The Government will consider what further action to take following the publication of this report, which we expect to be available in March.

Endangered and Protected Species

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the criteria are for designating an animal species in the United Kingdom as (a) an endangered and (b) a protected species;
	(2)  under what circumstances an animal previously categorised in the United Kingdom as endangered or protected is deregistered or otherwise removed from the list; and what conditions must be met for statutory protection to be removed.

Ben Bradshaw: As previously mentioned in the answer given to the hon. Member on 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 1W, the animal species listed on schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are reviewed every five years. My previous answer details the criteria used for assessing whether species should be added to the schedule for the Fourth Quinquennial Review, which will be consulted upon in 2004. The Quinquennial Review criteria relate only to taxa that are endangered or is likely to become endangered.
	Endangered species are also identified through inclusion in Red Data Books, where the threats to survival of species are assessed using internationally recognised criteria.
	Part of the Quinquennial Review process is also used to assess whether the species that have been protected by listing on schedule 5 still merit protection. The criteria used are the same as those given in my previous reply of January 26.

Fisheries Council

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what power she has to request the Fisheries Council to reconvene.

Ben Bradshaw: Meetings of the Fisheries Council and all other formations of the Council are convened by the incumbent Presidency (currently Ireland) which publishes a schedule of planned meetings in advance. Any member state or the commission can request the Presidency to call a special meeting of the Council, in addition to the planned schedule of meetings, but such requests are rare. The Irish Presidency has already scheduled meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council for February, March, April, May and June 2004.

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members of the (a) Rural Development Commission, (b) Environment Agency, (c) British Waterways Board, (d) Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council and (e) UK Eco-Labelling Board were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Alun Michael: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Rural Development Commission
	The Rural Development Commission was an NDPB of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and was wound up 30 June 2000.
	
		(b) Environment Agency
		
			 Members Term of office Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Sir John Harman 1 January 2004–31 December 2007 87,475 
			 Deputy Chair   
			 Prof. Donald Ritchie 1 July 2001–30 June 2004 32,805 
			 Ex-officio Member   
			 Lady Barbara Young 11 December 2000–10 December 2005 Unpaid 
			 Members   
			 Mr. Colin Beardwood 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 25,515 
			 Mr. Peter Bye 1 September 2003–31 August 2006 18,225 
			 Mr. Ted Cantle 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 18.225 
			 Mr. Andrew Dare CBE 1 February 2002–31 February 2005 21.870 
			 Mr. John B. Edmonds 30 May 2002–31 May 2005 21.870 
			 Prof. Richard Macrory 1 January 2002–31 December 2004 18,225 
			 Mr. Peter Matthews 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 21,870 
			 Ms Sara Parkin QBE 18 September 2003–17 September 2006 18,225 
			 Mr. Richard Percy 1 November 2003–31 October 2006 14,580 
			 Dr. Lyndon Stanton 30 May 2002–31-May 2005 21,870 
			 Mrs. Kay Twitchen 1 April 2004–31-March 2007 25,515 
			 Mr. Gareth Wardell 8 August 2000–7 August 2004 25,515 
			 Prof. Lynda Warren 10 October 2003–9 October 2006 5,515 
		
	
	
		(c) British Waterways Board
		
			  Term of Office Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Dr. George Greener 10 July 2002–9 July 2005 67,006 
			 Deputy Chair   
			 Sir Peter Soulsby 1 October 2001–30 September 2004 13,845 
			 Members   
			 Ms Susan Achmatowicz 10 October 2001–9 October 2004 10,497 
			 Mr. Campbell Christie 1 July 2001–30 June 2004 10,497 
			 Mr. Ian Darling 4 September 2003–3 September 2006 10,497 
			 Mr. George Fleming 10 October 2001–9 October 2004 10,497 
			 Ms Helen Gordon 4 September 2003–3 September 2006 10,497 
			 Mr. Derek Langslow 4 September 2003–3 September 2006 10,497 
			 Ms Janet Lewis-Jones 10 October 2001–9 October 2004 10,497 
			 Ms Adeeba Malik 10 October 2001–9 October 2004 10,497 
			 Mr. Terence Tricker 10 October 2001–9 October 2004 10,497 
		
	
	
		(d) Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council
		
			  Term of Office Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			 Chair   
			 Lady Sheelin Knollys 1 February 2003–31 January 2006 197.25 per day 
			 Deputy Chair  Unpaid 
			 Cllr Stewart Stacey 1 April 2001–31 March 2004  
			 Members   
			 Ms Jane Barren 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Dr. Michael John Bruton 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. David Brian Dare 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mrs. Carol Davenport 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mrs. Helen Green 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. Tony Hirst 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Dr. Christine Johnstone 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. Wyndham Mitchell 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. David Morgan 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. Michael Palmer 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Dr. David Pattison 1 August 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mr. John Richard Pomfret 1 April 2001–30 April 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mrs. Audrey Smith 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Dr. Nigel John Willby 1 August 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
			 Mrs. Fiona Willis 1 April 2001–31 March 2004 Unpaid 
		
	
	(e) UK Eco-Labelling Board
	The UK Eco-Labelling Board was an NDPB of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and was wound up on 19 April 1999.

Recycling

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to encourage local authorities to ensure that blocks of flats have recycling bins.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	Requirements for the disposal of waste from buildings are set out in Part H, Drainage and Waste Disposal, of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2000. When these Regulations were amended in 2002, a recommendation was made in the supporting Approved Document that "residents only" recycling centres should be provided as part of communal waste collection facilities for flats and other high density housing. It is also recommended that designers and developers should consult the local waste collection authority so that provision for the storage of waste prior to collection can be properly accommodated.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants (Disability)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what percentage he estimates that the recorded number of disabled civil servants will change as a result of the proposed change in methodology used to calculate the number of disabled staff in the Civil Service to the percentage of those responding to a questionnaire.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office is consulting on a change to the methodology for collecting and calculating staffing figures on disability in order to improve the robustness of the data and to allow better comparisons with other sources of data on disability, such as the Labour Force Survey.
	Table 1 sets out the difference that the proposed methodology would have on previously published figures on the basis of information currently held. However, this is unlikely to provide a full picture of the impact of the change as data for previous years is insufficient to be able to distinguish between staff who have declared they do not have a disability and those who have not made any declaration. This information would be collected in future if the proposed change in methodology goes ahead.
	If we proceed with the proposed change, disability figures based on the old calculation method will be published alongside the new method in the short-term so that year-on-year comparisons can continue be made.
	
		Table 1:
		
			 As at April Total disabled Total non-disabled Published percentage Revised percentage using new method 
		
		
			 2003 19,510 355,630 3.6 5.2 
			 2002 18,650 334,940 3.6 5.3 
			 2001 15,520 364,330 3.1 4.1 
			 2000 18,480 410,950 3.7 4.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Disability information for MOD is only available for 2000, for later years the data are not provided (but their staff totals were used in the denominator for the Civil Service as a whole).
	Source:
	Civil Service Statistics Website (http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm)

Government Cars

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many fixed penalty notices for speeding were issued against vehicles belonging to the Government Car Service during 2003;
	(2)  on how many occasions in the last 12 months for which information is available Government Car Service vehicles have been identified by road safety cameras as travelling in excess of the speed limit;
	(3)  how many Government Car Service drivers have resigned during the last 12 months following disqualifications from driving.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Government Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the provision of Government cars to Whips.

Douglas Alexander: Guidance on the use of official cars is set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel By Ministers.
	The Chief Whips in both the Commons and Lords are entitled to be provided with allocated cars. Other whips are able to use cars in the Government Car Service pool for official purposes. This travel is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Public Bodies

Llew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many non-United Kingdom resident UK citizens sit on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs); and what costs will be incurred in 2003–04 by the payments of international travel costs to enable their participation in NDPB meetings.

Douglas Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Individual Departments are responsible for making appointments to their own public bodies and for paying the travel costs incurred by appointees.

Public Services Audit

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answers of 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 72W and 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1048W, on public services audit, what inquiries he has made regarding the source of the unauthorised briefing to Rosemary Bennett of The Times newspaper.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1048W.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

European Treaties

Richard Spring: To ask the Leader of the House to what Treaty he referred to in his letter to Mr. Jonathan Evans MEP of 17 December 2003, in which he stated that the Treaty agreed at the European Council made clear that member states retain control of their natural resources; whether it remains the Government's position that Article III-157 (Section 10: Energy) of the draft Constitution for Europe is unnecessary as all aspects of energy policy are effectively covered elsewhere in the Treaty; whether the Government's concerns on the changing of boundaries of EU competence and the types of measure which will be subject to unanimity have been allayed; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have written to Jonathan Evans MEP to apologise for an error in my letter of 17 December 2003. No Treaty was agreed at the Inter-Governmental Conference. The Prime Minister did, however, make it clear that good progress had been made in relation to energy matters during negotiations.
	An Energy Chapter will bring European competence on energy together in a single legal base. We support the proposal on the basis that it is more transparent than existing legislation. We have, however, consistently set out our concern that any uncertainty about the impact of the Energy Chapter could undermine investment in North sea oil and gas. With that in mind, we proposed a series of amendments to this part of the Treaty with the aim of ensuring that European member states would retain the right to control the exploitation of their natural resources. Maintaining unanimity in relation to tax proposals remains part of the Government's "red line".
	We are confident that all our efforts, including work with other member states, will provide a sound basis for future negotiations.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sports Coaching

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of (a) voluntary, (b) part-time and (c) full-time qualified athletics coaches in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The final report of the Coaching Task Force published by DCMS in July 2002, noted that governing bodies of sport—including athletics—find it difficult to maintain accurate and current records of their qualified coaches, irrespective of their employment status. DCMS has funded Sports Coach UK to commission a UK wide study of coaching across the 31 sports—including athletics—invited to participate in the National Coaching Certificate. The results are expected around Easter.

Sports Coaching

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of coaches employed through the Coachmatch scheme who will be (a) full-time and (b) part-time in each year until 2006;
	(2)  what measures her Department has taken to ensure the coaches employed through the Coachmatch scheme will be retained in employment after 2006.

Richard Caborn: The Community Sports Coach scheme (formerly known as Coachmatch) will see a first phase of some 100 full-time coaches employed by the end of 2003–04. Decisions on the roll out of the scheme during 2004–05 will be made following evaluation of phase one. We expect that some 450 full-time and 2,550 part-time coaches will be employed by the end of 2005–06.
	Future funding for the scheme is dependent on the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review.

Sports Coaching

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  which National Governing Body coaching awards for sport qualify for Learning and Skills Council funding;
	(2)  what the maximum grants available from the Learning and Skills Council to meet the cost of volunteers taking sports coaching qualifications are; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Coaching awards in swimming, gymnastics, orienteering and angling are eligible for funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in England. In addition, if a sport offers an NVQ the LSC will fund the employer and the training provider directly rather than the individual. The value of any LSC grant depends on the length of the course. Typically a coaching qualification in the above sports taking between 60–90 hours to achieve can attract funding of approximately £400 per candidate, irrespective of employment status.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Richard Caborn: The information is as follows:
	1997–98
	Branding the Department broken down by:
	(a) Consultancy fees—The cost of producing a new visual identity for the Department was £26,000. This included all design costs, development of the logo and the layout of all internal and external documents and stationery.
	(b) Design and orders for new stationery—The cost of £26,000 included the design and layout of new stationery. Before 1998–99 no record was kept of specific office supplies such as stationery.
	(c) Website design—There were no costs incurred for website design during 1997–98.
	(d) Other material featuring new logos—The DCMS identity appears on all DCMS external and internal publications and other publicity related items such as backdrops. The spend on publicity materials during 1997–98 was £338,761.
	2003–04
	Branding the Department broken down by:
	(a) Consultancy fees—No moneys have been spent on consultants in relation to DCMS branding during 2003–04.
	(b) Designs and orders for new stationery—There were no design costs for stationery during 2003–04. The cost of stationery items carrying the DCMS branding such as: letterhead paper, compliments slips, business cards, folders and various forms is £18,460 to date in this current financial year.
	(c) Website design—There was no cost for implementing the DCMS identity on the website as the work was done in-house.
	(d) Other materials featuring new logos—The DCMS identity appears on all DCMS external and internal publications and other publicity related items such as backdrops. The spend on publicity materials to date during this current financial year is £295,570.99.

National Lottery

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the largest amount of National Lottery money is that has been awarded to an organisation since its inception.

Estelle Morris: The organisation which has received the most Lottery money is the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. It received five grants to a value of £628 million, of which £603 million was drawn upon.

National Lottery

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many organisations in Southend, West who have applied for National Lottery funding have had their application turned down; and on what grounds these decisions were made.

Estelle Morris: This Department has never collected comprehensive information on either the number or value of applications for Lottery grants received by the Distributing Bodies.
	Decisions on Lottery grants are made at arm's length from Government and are matters for those organisations.

Picketts Lock

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money was spent on the Picketts Lock stadium in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The only public money spent on the Pickett's Lock stadium was for a feasibility study conducted in 2000–01. Sport England have estimated that the study cost £1.5 million.
	As a result of the study, it was decided that the cost of the proposed National Athletics Stadium could not be justified. However, Picketts Lock has successfully applied to become the London High Performance Centre for Athletics. Both primary school children and the local community will benefit from the centre.

Royal Parks Police

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether staff transfers will be covered by Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations when the Royal Parks Police is merged with the Metropolitan Police;
	(2)  whether the Metropolitan Police has guaranteed to Royal Parks officers the right to continue to work within the parks;
	(3)  what will happen to Royal Parks officers who occupy Park Lodges but are not offered employment by the Metropolitan Police;
	(4)  what provision will be made for Royal Parks constabulary officers over the age of 60 at the time of the proposed merger with the Metropolitan Police who have a contractual retirement age of 65;
	(5)  what will happen to Royal Parks constabulary staff who do not pass the Metropolitan Police health screening process;
	(6)  whether early retirement terms will be offered to any Royal Parks Constabulary staff ahead of the proposed merger with the Metropolitan Police;
	(7)  what will happen to Royal Parks Constabulary officers who have previously retired from a Home Office force through age and are not eligible for a job with the Metropolitan Police;
	(8)  if she will make a statement on the terms proposed by the Metropolitan Police for taking on Royal Parks Constabulary staff.

Richard Caborn: Merger of the RPC with the MPS will not happen until the necessary primary legislation is in place. Until then, the RPC will continue to exist and will work alongside an MPS Operational Command Unit which will be in place from 1 April 2004. All those currently working in the RPC will be able to continue to do so, subject to continuing fitness and satisfactory performance, until the legislation to wind up the RPC comes into force.
	The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 ("TUPE") do not automatically apply to the merger, but we intend to ensure that, where appropriate, the transfer arrangements are consistent with the principles of TUPE.
	The MPS has made clear its intention to offer jobs to all RPC staff when the RPC is wound up, subject to satisfaction of their eligibility criteria. The precise arrangements, including those for RPC staff who do not pass the MPS health screening process, those who are over 60 at the date of the merger, those who have previously retired from the MPS on grounds of their age and those occupying lodges in the Parks, are being finalised and will be addressed in a staff consultation which we expect to take place this month.

Train Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last used a train in connection with her ministerial duties.

Tessa Jowell: I last travelled by train during the course of my official duties on 10 February 2004. I travelled to Bradford from Kings Cross in order to meet the members of Bradford City Council, and visit the National Film and Photographic Museum, the World Heritage Site at Saltaire and the Specialist Sports College in Menston.
	All travel by Ministers in this Department is made in line with the guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document Travel by Ministers, using the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport and bearing in mind security considerations. We will continue to do so.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bushmeat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make representations to the European Commission to implement the European Parliament's resolution on Petition 461/2000 concerning bushmeat.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: There is much in this resolution on Petition 461/2000 that the Government would wish to support. The Department for International Development works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on bushmeat and livelihoods issues. Officials will be following up with the European Commission about the action they have taken and intend to take on this matter.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the proposals in his Written Statement of 8 January 2004 on reorganisation of CDC will require parliamentary approval; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The proposals described in my Statement of 8 January 2004 do not require parliamentary approval. Nevertheless, I intend to continue to keep Parliament fully informed about these changes as they are implemented.

Departmental Budget

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's total annual budget was in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: In line with changes to Government accounting systems, DFID moved from a cash based budget to a resource based budget in 2001–02. The figures for all years are as listed.
	
		DFID Budget
		
			  Total (£ million) 
		
		
			 Cash budget  
			 1997–98 1,870 
			 1998–99 1,999 
			 1999–2000 2,217 
			 2000–01 2,363 
			   
			 Resource Budget 
			 2001–02 2,573 
			 2002–03 3,024 
			 2003–04 3,699 
			 2004–05 3,809 
			 2005–06 4,556

Fairtrade Foundation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the support given to the Fairtrade Foundation over the last four years.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID have worked closely with the Fairtrade Foundation since 1997. In the last four years:
	Through the Development Awareness Fund, we have provided £120,000 to the media campaigns of the Fairtrade Foundation. These are designed specifically to raise both supermarket and consumer awareness of products carrying the Fairtrade Mark.
	In 2002, the Foundation began to expand the Fairtrade product range. DFID provided £300,000 to the foundation on a project to extend the reach of Fairtrade labelling to new producers in developing countries. This will lead to an increase in the range of products in the shops for consumers. Nuts, rice and wine are examples of types of products likely to be in the first wave.
	In 2002 we gave a grant to support the Fairtrade town/city brand over three years.
	A number of the regional Enabling Effective Support strategies for work in schools also include a focus on Fairtrade Fortnight.
	This year, the Secretary of State will be launching Fairtrade Fortnight. I will also participate in some key events.

Mozambique

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the reports of the famine early warning systems relating to the potential for drought in Mozambique; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID is closely following events. Early season rainfall was well below normal in much of central and southern Mozambique, raising concerns of a third consecutive drought year. Recent rains may still spark crop recovery in the centre of the country, but many areas of southern Mozambique are likely to experience crop failure. Steep price rises in maize, the main staple food, are also probable in southern areas due to crop failure in South Africa and other neighbouring countries. A national assessment of vulnerability and hunger will be made in March after the first harvests have started, and a full needs assessment will be published by April. This will provide sufficient time for DFID and others to look carefully at the assessment and respond as required.

Nuclear Weapons (Aid)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is towards giving aid to countries that illegally obtain nuclear weapons.

Hilary Benn: The prime consideration in allocating aid is the extent to which we are able to make an impact on reducing extreme poverty. Therefore, our development assistance is concentrated on countries where governments are committed to spending their budgets on poverty reduction priorities.
	Issues of good governance and levels of military expenditure (including any nuclear-related spending) are among the factors we take into account in determining aid allocations.

Overseas Development Administration

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the Overseas Development Administration's funding was paid to (a) governments and (b) non-governmental organisations in each year between 1974 and 1997.

Hilary Benn: This information was not compiled at the time and our records do not hold sufficient detail to analysis this retrospectively.

Overseas Development Administration

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Overseas Development Administration's total annual budget was in each year between 1974 and 1997.

Hilary Benn: We hold records of the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) voted budget back to 1983–84. Figures for these years are listed in the table.
	
		ODA Budget
		
			  Total (£ million) 
		
		
			 1983–84 1,171 
			 1984–85 1,208 
			 1985–86 1,234 
			 1986–87 1,294 
			 1987–88 1,322 
			 1988–89 1,511 
			 1989–90 1,639 
			 1990–91 1,691 
			 1991–92 1,897 
			 1992–93 2,021 
			 1993–94 2,052 
			 1994–95 2,141 
			 1995–96 1,983 
			 1996–97 1,855 
		
	
	Details of ODA's total expenditure for earlier years are available in Statistics on International Development. Copies can be found in the House Library.

Wildlife and Poverty

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what progress has been made by his Department in implementing the recommendations of the 2002 Wildlife and Poverty Study;
	(2)  if he will discuss wildlife and bushmeat issues with the Governments of (a) Ghana and (b) Cameroon;
	(3)  if he will make a statement about the recent policy papers produced by Dr. David Brown of the Overseas Development Institute concerning issues of bushmeat and livelihoods;
	(4)  what assessment his Department's country offices in (a) Ghana and (b) Cameroon have made of the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002 Wildlife and Poverty Study;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of his Department's response to the recommendations of the 2002 Wildlife and Poverty Study; and what impact these recommendations have had on the work of his Department.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The DFID Wildlife and Poverty Study estimated that 150 million very poor people are significantly dependent on wildlife for their food and livelihoods, and that bushmeat is one important part of this. The study drew out implications for donors, governments, the private sector and civil society, but did not make any explicit recommendations to DFID. We have however disseminated the findings of the study widely.
	DFID responds directly to the priorities of our partner countries as set out in their own development agendas, known as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
	I am unable to comment on the 'recent policy papers' produced by Dr. David Brown of the Overseas Development Institute concerning issues of bushmeat and livelihoods, as I am not sure precisely which policy papers are being referred to. I am, however, aware of the work that Dr. Brown has been doing for the CITES Bushmeat Working Group, with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with whom DFID works closely on bushmeat and livelihoods issues. DFID supports the view that any actions to address bushmeat should take the livelihoods of poor people fully into account, and that blanket bans on bushmeat harvesting would not be effective and would hit the poor the hardest.
	At the ministerial segment of the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) Conference, held in Cameroon in October 2003, I discussed bushmeat and forest management issues with Ministers from Ghana, Cameroon and other countries. We would expect to continue discussing these issues in the context of AFLEG implementation, as part of DFID's regular dialogue with the Governments of Ghana and Cameroon.

Wildlife and Poverty

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to discuss with the governments of (a) Cameroon and (b) Ghana their poverty reduction strategies in the next 12 months.

Hilary Benn: In Ghana the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy is discussed with Ministries and Agencies of the Government, and I expect to take forward these discussions when I visit Ghana shortly. There will be an opportunity to take a look at progress when the second annual Monitoring and Evaluation report of the Poverty Reduction Strategy is published in April.
	In Cameroon our support for the Poverty Reduction Strategy will focus on forestry reform within the framework of the Forestry and Environment Sector Programme. My officials will be participating in an in-country appraisal of this programme in March.

Sustainable Development

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what resources his Department has allocated to support the UN's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development;
	(2)  what activities his Department has planned to mark the beginning of the UN's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in 2005.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The United Nations "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development" aims to promote education as a basis for a more sustainable human society and to integrate sustainable development into education systems at all levels.
	The lead agency for promoting the decade, which starts in 2005, is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). DFID is a long-term partner of UNESCO and is currently its fourth largest contributor, providing approximately £12 million in core funding per year. Under this agreement, DFID gives priority to supporting UNESCO's work to achieve Education For All by 2015.
	DFID also supports UNESCO's wider education programme which encompasses education for sustainable development. Activities around the UN decade of Education for Sustainable Development are currently being prepared and will be supported at national and school level in a number of countries where DFID has country programmes. For more information on this decade, please refer to the UNESCO website: www.unesco.org

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures he has taken to ensure that development budgets for Uganda are not diverted to defence.

Hilary Benn: Uganda has a well-developed and consultative process for deciding the Government's annual budget. Donors are involved throughout, and have an opportunity to endorse the budget at the annual public expenditure review. This level of consultation allows partners, including the UK, to ensure Government meets its commitment to prioritise poverty reduction. Allocations to the Government's "Poverty Action Fund" (PAF), for example, have risen from less than 20 per cent. to over 37 per cent. of the Government's budget in the past six years. These allocations have been fully protected during budget execution. Our budget support, and that of other donors, is conditional on our endorsement of the budget and its subsequent execution.
	The level of defence spending is a major element of this consultation. The UK has supported a defence review, which is about to conclude. The review's purpose is to develop a long-term strategy for the Army, setting out how roles and capabilities should be adapted to meet the security challenges Uganda faces. It will provide the basis for making well-informed and affordable decisions on the defence budget in the future. We are impressing upon Government the need for consultation around the review's recommendations before future levels of defence expenditure are set. Our aim is to ensure its affordability, and guarantee expenditure for core poverty reduction programmes is not displaced. We will monitor this issue very closely, especially in the context of our budget support.

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement about the people living in internally displaced persons camps within Uganda, with particular reference to their need for adequate water, food and security.

Hilary Benn: The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation caused by the conflict in northern Uganda, now in its 18th year. Insecurity prevents normal development activities, resulting in 63 per cent. of households in the north living below the poverty line compared with 38 per cent. nationally. Our immediate concern is the plight of the large number of displaced people across the region. This group of over 1.3 million faces declining levels of food security due to disruption of the planting and harvesting seasons. They also face serious problems of lack of shelter and physical insecurity. A number of local and international organisations are working to address the emerging needs.
	We have provided £7.3 million of humanitarian assistance over the last 12 months. This has been channelled through the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the Uganda Red Cross Society. We are currently allocating a further £1.1 million. Linked to this we are financing UNICEF personnel working on the protection of women and children. We have also provided Save the Children Fund with a grant to improve conditions for the increasing number of unaccompanied children who are sleeping in town centres at night to avoid abduction by the LRA. We are working hard, in partnership with others, to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches all those in need despite some access difficulties across the region.
	The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and I raised the conflict and its humanitarian impact in our discussions with President Museveni during his recent UK visit. We, along with our partners in Uganda and the international community, will continue to encourage the Government of Uganda to bring about a sustainable resolution to the conflict.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Learning Grant

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults are entitled to adult learning grant; and what steps his Department is taking to promote the take-up.

Ivan Lewis: We estimate that some 6,000 adults may be eligible for the grant in the 10 pilot areas. So far there have been over 2,600 applications.
	We are working with the Learning and Skills Council, further education colleges, and advice and guidance agencies in the 10 pilots to promote this new grant. At this stage, the main focus is on promoting the grant to new learners who started courses during January 2004 and to existing learners who may be eligible but have not applied.

Skills Shortages

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received regarding the impact of skills shortages on productivity.

Ivan Lewis: It is estimated that lower skills contribute up to 20 per cent. of the UK's productivity gap with France and Germany. The key to productivity is a highly skilled workforce. The Skills Strategy published in July sets out our programme to raise our skill levels to compete with the best in the world. It will be driven forward by the Skills Alliance.

Primary Schools (Health and Safety)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the application of health and safety requirements in primary schools.

Stephen Twigg: Employers at primary schools must ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of staff, pupils and visitors to the school site. The employer will usually be the local education authority. In practice the associated tasks are usually delegated to the school staff, for example ensuring drinking water taps are labelled.

School Funding

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the guaranteed per pupil funding increase for schools for the next academic year.

David Miliband: The minimum funding guarantee for schools, which is based on a 4 per cent. per pupil increase with adjustments for changes in pupil numbers, will apply for the financial year beginning 1 April 2004. The guarantee will also operate in the 2005–06 financial year, on a basis to be finalised when we have reviewed the way it is working in its first year. The guarantee is an important element of our arrangements for stabilising school funding over the next two years.

Specialist Schools

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to assist areas which have difficulty in raising private finance sponsorship required to make a specialist school application.

Charles Clarke: The Department funds the Specialist Schools and the Youth Sport Trusts to assist schools to raise sponsorship. The Trusts can also act as a broker between sponsors and schools requiring assistance.
	We have also created a "Partnership Fund", made up of Government and private sector funding, to help schools which can demonstrate that, in spite of their determined efforts over time, they have not be been able to raise the necessary level of sponsorship.

School Building

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment of the needs of Nottingham schools he has made ahead of his decisions on the Schools for the Future school building programme.

David Miliband: We published our criteria for prioritisation in the Building Schools for the Future programme in July 2003. This covered education need and vision, and readiness to deliver the programme. All authorities wishing to be in the first year of the programme put forward their proposals on that basis. All proposals have been rigorously assessed and we are announcing the outcome of that today.

Student Finance

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will reduce the level of payments of university tuition fees for graduates who take up and remain in modestly paid jobs.

Alan Johnson: The income-contingent repayment scheme for student loans already recognises the needs of graduates who take and remain in poorly paid jobs. Repayments will be 9 per cent. of salary above £15,000 from 2005, and will stop whenever the graduate's salary falls below that threshold. In addition, we propose to write off the outstanding loan after 25 years—that too will benefit graduates in low paid jobs.

Student Finance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has held with the Chancellor on the relationship between projected student debt and household debt.

Charles Clarke: There is no relationship between student loans and household debt. Student loans are repaid on an income-contingent basis. We intend that graduates only pay 9 per cent. of their income beyond £15,000 per year. If it falls below £15,000, their repayments stop. Student loans are subsidised by the Government with no real rate of interest—so the burden does not increase, however long the repayment period. The Government propose to write off any outstanding student loan amount after 25 years.

Student Finance

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many charges and of what value have been made in error to graduates whose income did not reach a level where repayment was required for failure to make repayments of student loans.

Alan Johnson: The information is not available in the form requested. Borrowers with the old, mortgage style, loans may be charged administration fees if they fall into default. This can happen if a borrower's income is below the deferment threshold but they neither apply to defer their loan repayments nor make loan repayments.
	Different arrangements apply to the income-contingent loans, where repayment is triggered automatically by the Inland Revenue when the borrower's income exceeds the repayment threshold. Borrowers outside the UK who fail to repay these income-contingent loans to the Student Loans Company when they should, may incur financial penalties.
	Where charges are made in error, the Student Loans Company will refund them.

Private Finance Initiative (Schools)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the use of the private finance initiative in schools.

David Miliband: The use of the private finance initiative in schools has been a popular and successful programme. Popular because more than 100 of the 150 local education authorities in England have applied to take part. Successful because we have progressed from one contract covering one school in 1997 to 66 contracts covering over 600 schools today. Services have started under 40 of these contracts and they represent a private sector capital investment of £1.8 billion.

School Sport

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he will assess whether his target that 75 per cent. of all five to 16-year-olds should spend at least two hours a week engaged in physical education and school sport by 2006 has been met.

Stephen Twigg: Data are now being collected for the first time—for publication in April—on the number of pupils who choose to take up the entitlement to two hours of high-quality PE and school sport each week within and beyond the curriculum. This exercise will be repeated in future years so that performance against the PSA target can be assessed.

Higher Education Teachers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his intention that the new national professional standards for teachers in higher education will include a requirement to hold specific or new professional or academic qualifications.

Alan Johnson: The White Paper, The Future of Higher Education, signalled that in order for teaching in HE to be treated seriously as a profession its own right, national professional standards designed and agreed by the sector should be introduced. Training to meet the new standards should be possible through a wide range of programmes and courses. It is expected that all new teaching staff will be required to obtain a teaching qualification that meets the standards. Qualifications will be awarded by HEIs and could be existing qualifications, adapted and developed as necessary, or newly developed qualifications. The development of the standards and the accreditation of the qualifications are being taken forward by the new sector body, the HE Academy.

Key Stage 3 Tests

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Key Stage 3 English tests were re-marked in each year since 2001; what the cost was of carrying out this re-marking in each year; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 3 February 2004
	The figures quoted as follows represent the number of Key Stage 3 English re-marks requested and those which resulted in a change in the level awarded to the pupil in reading, writing and overall. The figures for the number of re-marks which resulted in a change in marks are not available since the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority(QCA) only keeps records relating to changes in level.
	
		
			 Key Stage 3English Number ofRe-marks requested Number ofRe-marks resulting in a change in level Changes in level as per cent. of whole cohort 
		
		
			 2001 87,985 18,579 3.1 
			 2002 90,510 16,864 2.3 
			 2003 120,780 23,888 3.8 
		
	
	The costs of carrying out the re-marking process for each test subject at each key stage are not held by the External Marking Agency (EMA).
	Changes to the test mark schemes were introduced in 2003. The consequent unfamiliarity with the mark scheme resulted in an increase in the number of reviews requested by schools. Due to the increase in level changes following review and the concerns raised by schools, the Department asked QCA to examine the quality control measures in place for both marking and reviews.
	Improvements planned for this year include:
	The separate marking of reading and writing Key Stage 3 English scripts.
	Markers will be asked to focus on one mark scheme and specialise in one component of the tests, either reading or writing.
	The electronic calculation of marks and levels, which should eliminate the need to request reviews due to clerical error.
	Increased marker supervision, revised marker training and additional training for new markers.
	The Government believes that any occurrence of unacceptable marking is a cause for concern and QCA will continue to work together with the EMA to improve the quality and reliability of marking. I believe it is absolutely vital to ensure reliable test results in which pupils, teachers and parents can be confident.

Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what reassessment he has made of decisions made by the board of Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council in the last six months;
	(2)  what conclusions he draws from the inquiry into bullying at Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council.

Alan Johnson: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

R and D

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to whom his Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments of (a) the Department and (b) its agencies there are in each region of England.

Stephen Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the Office for Science and Technology's publication 'The Forward Look 2003—Government funded science, engineering and technology' which provides details of the Department's expenditure on research and development for the period 2001–02 to 2004–05.
	The Department does not have any research establishments or agencies.

Scientific Research Infrastructure Programme

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to (a) Newcastle University and (b) Northumbria University from the Scientific Research Infrastructure Programme; and what the purpose was of each investment.

Alan Johnson: The Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) provides universities with resources to address the backlog in infrastructure for science, engineering and technology research and to invest in the new facilities they need to produce world-class research. It is up to institutions to spend their allocation in line with their own research strategy within the eligibility criteria, which now includes arts and humanities research.
	The University of Newcastle received £16,246,007 from the first round of SRIF between 2002 and 2004 and will receive £21,451,684 from the next round of the Fund over the next two years. The University of Northumbria at Newcastle received £731,167 from the first round of SRIF and will receive £1,054,366 from the next round.

Special Needs Education

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received about the continued commissioning from local education authorities of independent specialist education for children with complex and special needs; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has not received any specific representations on this matter.
	Some local authorities have raised concerns about the increased costs of placements in some independent and non-maintained special schools and have cited these costs as a particular pressure on the centrally retained part of the schools budget. It has been one of the reasons some local authorities have given for applying for relaxation of the limits on central spending.
	The Department is shortly to issue guidance for local authorities on the management of SEN funding, based on examples of effective practice.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Proceeds of Crime Act

David Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General how many applications have been made by the Crown Prosecution Service under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; and how successful the recovery has been.

Harriet Harman: Between 24 March 2003 (when the relevant provisions of the POCA came into effect) and the end of 2003, the Crown Prosecution Service applied for and was granted approximately 40 confiscation orders and assets valued in excess of £4.5 million are restrained in respect of 45 defendants. To date enforcement action has been successfully taken in respect of three confiscation orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Crown Prosecution Service

Bob Spink: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the progress of the pilot to place Crown Prosecution Service offices in police stations.

Harriet Harman: Shadow charging arrangements are currently operating at 262 out of the 380 police operation units that require cover. Every one of the 42 CPS and police force areas has at least one unit in place and 18 currently have full shadow coverage.

Domestic Violence

Huw Edwards: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she is taking to improve guidance to the Crown Prosecution Service on cases of domestic violence.

Harriet Harman: During 2003, Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) undertook a thematic inspection of how domestic violence cases were investigated and prosecuted. The final report is due to be published later this month.
	In order to address the findings and recommendations of the inspection and to reflect changes in law and practice, notably the pre-charge advice scheme and possible statutory developments arising from the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, the detailed guidance that accompanies the Crown Prosecution Service policy on handling domestic violence cases will be updated in autumn 2004.

Domestic Violence

Martin Caton: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed commissioner for domestic violence and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service, along with other authorities, will work constructively with the Commissioner to champion the interests of victims and witnesses.

Nottingham Criminal Justice Board

Graham Allen: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on progress made in recent weeks on the work of the Crown Prosecution Service with the Nottingham criminal justice board in connecting the criminal justice system with local people.

Harriet Harman: My hon. Friend asked a very similar question last year, which I answered on 30 October 2003. and earlier this year, which I answered on 19 January 2004.
	Ms Kate Carty, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Nottinghamshire, is an active member of the Local Criminal Justice Board.
	I am aware that my hon. Friend met with the Lord Chancellor on 2 February 2004 to discuss the work of the Nottingham Criminal Justice Board.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Cockling

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what health and safety regulations apply to the cockling industry; what steps are being taken to ensure that these regulations are communicated to workers of foreign origin; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to the cockling industry as to other industrial sectors and work activities in Great Britain.
	The Act places the primary duty on the employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.
	The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess the risks to health and safety at work of their employees and others affected by their work activity; provide their employees with comprehensible information on the risks to their health and safety identified by the assessment and the preventive and protective measures; and ensure employees are provided with adequate health and safety training. All workers, including those of foreign origin, are entitled to equal protection under health and safety legislation.
	Guidance on those regulations makes it clear that employers should provide information in a form which takes account of any language difficulties and that they may need to make special arrangements for employees who have little or no understanding of English. These could include providing translation, using interpreters, or replacing written notices with clearly understood symbols or diagrams.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides basic information in other languages. It is revising existing advice for workers that will be available in a wider range of languages, and HSE will proactively publicise this to help ensure it reaches target audiences. HSE's confidential public inquiry service, Infoline, also offers a telephone interpreting service for callers in over one hundred languages.

Objective 3 Funds

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where the distribution of Objective 3 takes place with regard to (a) location and (b) financial amount for the 2000–06 period.

Chris Pond: European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 is available in all parts of the UK except: the Objective 1 areas of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, and West Wales and the Valleys; and the transitional Objective 1 areas of the Highlands and Islands, and Northern Ireland. The amount of Objective 3 funding for the UK in 2000–06 is £2,940 million.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud were detected in each of the last six years; and how many of these have resulted in (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions.

Chris Pond: The number of cases of benefit fraud detected is not available. The number of cases resulting in prosecution, and cases resulting in conviction, are in the table:
	
		
			  Prosecutions Convictions 
			  DSS/DWP Local authorities DSS/DWP Local authorities 
		
		
			 1997–98 11,523 n/a 11,386 700 
			 1998–99 10,129 n/a 9,967 800 
			 1999–2000 9,272 n/a 9,129 900 
			 2000–01 11,584 n/a 11,403 1,100 
			 2001–02 11,355 2,101 11,183 1,732 
			 2002–03 9,396 3,187 9,267 2,503 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. For local authorities, figures prior to 2001–02 have been rounded to the nearest 100 because they include estimated values for non-responding local authorities.
	2. Figures for local authority prosecutions which did not lead to conviction are not available prior to 2001–02.
	Source:
	1. DSS/DWP: Fraud Information By Sector
	2. Local authorities: From 2001–02 onwards the numbers are taken from subsidy claim forms. Prior to this the numbers are taken from management information returns.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, for each local authority, the total amount saved in benefit expenditure arising from anti-fraud initiatives in the most recent year for which figures are available; if he will express the figures as a percentage of the total expenditure on social security benefits administered by each local authority; and if he will provide an aggregate estimate for Great Britain.

Chris Pond: Estimates of savings in benefit expenditure by local authorities due to anti-fraud initiatives are not available at local authority or national level. It is not possible to readily estimate savings from the data the Department collects on detected overpayments. This is largely because it is not possible to know how long the overpayments would have continued for had they not been detected at that point in time.

Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) the interaction between income support and disability benefits, (b) the complexity of this interaction and (c) whether eligible recipients are deterred from claiming disability related benefits by the complexity of the process.

Chris Pond: Income support is intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses; it provides extra support to meet the needs of disabled customers with the automatic award of disability premiums. In addition, disability benefits, such as disability living allowance and attendance allowance, are fully disregarded.
	Jobcentre Plus has worked to enhance services with the use of electronic interfaces; a new interface between disability living allowance and income support has been developed in order to improve services to those who claim both benefits. It is intended that the new interface will be put into operation later this year.
	We do not believe these arrangements deter people eligible for benefit from taking up their entitlement.

Benefits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on incapacity benefit pilots in 2003; and what his estimate is of expenditure on such pilots in 2004;
	(2)  how much his Department will spend on incapacity benefit pilots in 2005.

Maria Eagle: "Pathways to Work—Helping People into Employment" Cm 5690 set out a strategy for enabling people on incapacity benefits to move into work. The first tranche of three pilot areas (Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute, and Derbyshire) went live from October 2003. The second tranche of areas (Gateshead and South Tyneside, Somerset, Essex, and East Lancashire) are on track to go live in April.
	Spending Review 2002 announced just under £100 million in additional funds for these pilots (£15 million for 2003–04 and £41 million for each of 2004–05 and 2005–06). £3.9 million was spent in the period April 2003 to December 2003; we estimate expenditure will be £7.45 million for January 2004 to March 2004, and £42.6 million for April 2004 to March 2005. These estimates include running costs, learning and development costs for personal advisers and other staff, the return to work credit, the NHS condition management programmes, and marketing and publicity costs.

Carer's Allowance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review pensioner carers' access to carer's allowance payments.

Maria Eagle: We have no current plans.
	Pensioners have access to carer's allowance. Around 22,000 receive the benefit, in full or in part. Around 44,000 pensioner carers receive the additional amount for carers paid with pension credit.
	Note:
	Figures as at end August 2003, 5 per cent. sample rounded to nearest 1,000.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre.

Child Poverty

Barbara Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The fifth annual 'Opportunity for all' (Cm 5956) report sets out the latest assessment of progress in tackling child poverty, showing significant progress.
	As set out in "Tackling Child Poverty—Giving Every Child the Best Possible Start in Life", published in December 2001, the Government's strategy for tackling child poverty involves ensuring decent family incomes, with work for those who can and support for those who cannot, and providing support for parents. It also involves delivering high quality public services and harnessing the power and expertise of the voluntary and community sectors.
	Based on the latest outturn data (for 2001–02) we have made significant progress on our PSA target to reduce the number of children in low-income households by a quarter by 2004–05. The 2003 Pre-Budget Report announced that the per child element of the Child Tax Credit will increase from April 2004 by £180 to £1,625 a year, equivalent to a weekly increase of £3.50.
	As a result of this new investment, the Government is on track to meet its PSA target to reduce by a quarter the number of children in low-income households by 2004–05 on a before housing costs basis. The target is more challenging on an after housing costs basis. The nature of the target means that there are uncertainties either way. This extra investment will enable the Government to make progress step by step towards its goal to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.
	The 2003 Budget announced a Child Poverty Review to examine, for the next Spending Review, the welfare reform and public services changes needed to advance faster towards its long-term goals to halve and then eradicate child poverty. The review is under way, with a series of seminars having been held during the autumn covering issues such as ethnic minority groups, educational outcomes, parenting, early years services, health outcomes, supporting families with disabled children and deprived areas. The Review will feed into the 2004 Spending Review.
	In December 2003 we published Measuring Child Poverty, which outlines our measure of child poverty for the long term, effective from 2004–05. A copy is available in the Library.

Child Support Agency

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many self-employed non-resident parents have failed to meet the required Child Support Agency calculated maintenance payments in the last 12 months; and how many of these cases remain unresolved.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to John Barrett dated 12 February 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked how many self employed non-resident parents have failed to meet the required Child Support Agency calculated maintenance payments in the last 12 months; and how many of these cases remain unresolved.
	The last period for which we have validated information is from March 2002 to February 2003. In that period the number of self-employed non-resident parents who had received an assessment but had not fully met their required payments totalled around 27,600. I am unable to say how many of these cases remain unresolved.

Child Support Agency

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the Child Support Agency computer system to be working at its planned level; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has placed reports on progress in implementing the new scheme in the Library.
	Progress is dependent on the computer service provided by EDS meeting agreed standards. The Child Support Agency is working closely with EDS to resolve problems with the IT but cannot yet say how long this may take.

Child Support Agency

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps against internet sites which exist to help people reduce or avoid their obligations to the Child Support Agency.

Chris Pond: If it comes to light that a particular site contains incorrect information, is defamatory or advocates illegal action, the Department will take appropriate steps.

Child Support Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) representations he has received and (b) assessment he has made of the (i) human rights implications and (ii) possible grounds for legal complaint arising from the unequal Child Support Agency assessments made between clients prior to and after April 2002.

Chris Pond: Like many hon. Members and their constituents, we are keen that everyone who has dealings with the Agency should benefit from the reforms. However, we will transfer old scheme cases only when we are sure the new scheme is working well. Where an old scheme assessment is in place, the old law and provisions made under it will continue to apply until the case is moved to the new scheme. We are satisfied that this approach is legal and correct.

Civil Servants (Transfer of Pensions)

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with those civil servants transferred from the Health and Safety Executive to Logica/CMG about their pensions scheme.

Des Browne: holding answer 20 January 2004
	In line with normal practice Ministers have had no discussions with the former civil servants who transferred from the Health and Safety Executive to the private sector about their pensions scheme.
	HSE's IT services were first contracted out in 1995 as part of the market testing policy of the previous administration. Although occupational pensions issues do not fall within the scope of the TUPE Regulations, the Government Actuary certified the Bull-lntegris (hereafter "Bull") pension scheme as broadly comparable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Staff were also provided with access to expert independent advice so that they could make informed choices about their pension arrangements.
	The contract for HSE's IT services was re-let in 2001 and won by a consortium made of Logica/CMG and Computacenter. As a result, Bull transferred former HSE employees to either Logica/CMG or Computacenter (depending on their function). Although these issues are matters between the contractors, HSE encouraged Logica/CMG, Computacenter and Bull to come to a bulk transfer arrangement on the matter of pensions.
	Logica/CMG have been unable to agree a bulk transfer of pension benefits from Bull in respect of employees past service with HSE and Bull. This is because such a transfer would result in staff being credited with a significantly reduced number of years in the CMG scheme.
	However, because of concerns about this issue I have asked officials to look at the case and confirm to me that procedures and accountabilities have been properly followed. This is under way and I will write again when investigations have been concluded.

Compensation Awards

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons a compensation award counts as capital for benefits calculations.

Chris Pond: Income-related benefits are intended to target help on those with the least resources. It is a long established principle that substantial amounts of capital should not be ignored when deciding entitlement to a benefit based on need and it is for this reason that all compensation payments are counted as capital.
	However, compensation payments received and placed in trust for the injured person are disregarded when determining benefit entitlement.

Council Tax Benefit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of administering council tax benefit payments in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland in each of the last five years; what the value was of council tax benefit payments made in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Scotland in each of those years; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of council tax benefit unclaimed in each of those years.

Chris Pond: The available information regarding the cost of administering council tax benefit and the total value of council tax benefit payments is in the tables.
	
		Cost of administering council tax benefit (in £ million)
		
			  Great Britain Scotland 
		
		
			 1998–99 185.284 13,355 
			 1999–2000 240.871 14,796 
			 2000–01 219.162 14,644 
			 2001–02 247.133 17,889 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for 2002–03 have not yet been finalised.
	Source:
	1. Scotland figures taken from Scottish Local Government Finance Statistics.
	2. Figures for England provided by Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	3. Figures for Wales provided by the National Assembly for Wales.
	
		Total value of council tax benefit payments (in £ million)
		
			  Great Britain Scotland 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,452 303 
			 1999–2000 2,511 307 
			 2000–01 2,575 311 
			 2001–02 2,686 316 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for 2002–03 have not yet been finalised.
	Source:
	Final audited subsidy returns sent to Department for Work and Pensions by local authorities.
	Estimates of the amount of council tax benefit left unclaimed in Great Britain are available in the Department for Work and Pensions/Department of Social Security annual report entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". Statistics are presented on a financial year basis; the latest estimates relate to 2000–01. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

Council Tax Benefit

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) number of beneficiaries of abolishing the upper capital limit on council tax benefit for people aged 60 years and over; and what plans he has to introduce this change;
	(2)  what the basis is for setting the council tax benefit upper capital limit at £16,000 for pensioners; and when the limit was last uprated.

Chris Pond: Council Tax Benefit has lower capital limits above which benefits are reduced and upper limits above which benefits cannot be paid. When the present scheme was introduced in April 1988, the upper capital limit was set at £6,000. It was subsequently increased to £8,000 on 30 May 1988 and to £16,000 on 1 April 1990.
	The estimated annual cost of abolishing the upper capital limit is approximately £50 million, with around 100,000 beneficiaries. We have no current plans to change these arrangements; however, under the new Pension Credit, there is no upper capital limit.
	Notes:
	i. Costs are rounded to the nearest five million, beneficiaries are rounded to the nearest 25,000.
	ii. Each beneficiary represents a benefit unit, which can be a single claimant or a couple; where the benefit unit is a couple, at least one member is aged 60 or over.
	iii. Costs are estimated using the DWP Policy Simulation Model for 2004–05; this model is based on the 2001–02 Family Resources Survey data, uprated to 2004–05 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels, and is calibrated to latest published forecasts and policies.
	iv. Costs arise from cases becoming newly entitled to council tax benefit as a result of abolishing the upper capital limit. The estimates above assume that those with significant amounts of capital are as likely to take up benefit entitlement as those currently entitled.

Council Tax Benefit

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners were eligible for council tax benefit in each year since 2000 in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley.

Chris Pond: The information requested is not available.
	National figures of the number of the pensioners in receipt of council tax benefit, plus the estimated number that are entitled but not receiving benefit, can be obtained from the DWP report, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". The latest statistics relate to financial year 2000–01; a copy of the publication is held in the Library.
	National results for 2001–02 will be released later this month.

Departmental Staff

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the proposals drafted by his Department's senior management team for up to 18,000 job cuts in his Department.

Maria Eagle: This is not a new development. Staff in the Department for Work and Pensions were originally advised in a letter from the Permanent Secretary in October 2002, that as part of the Department's modernisation programme, staffing levels would be reduced between 2003 to 2006. The plans were discussed with the trade unions at the time.

Departmental Staff (Fraud)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Chris Pond: The Department does not record the information in the precise format requested. Such detail as is available is provided in the tables, which show the value of fraud and the outcome of investigation activity.
	Information on the numbers of cases investigated for this type of suspected fraud (i.e. involving members of staff), is not routinely recorded separately from other benefit fraud investigations. Some investigations will inevitably conclude that there has not been any fraud in the individual case, and therefore no further action will be taken.
	
		Table 1—1April 2003 to 31December 2003(3) -- £
		
			 Casenumber Value of fraud Outcome 
		
		
			 1 41,560.00 Officer prosecuted and sentenced to 15 months in prison 
			 2 28,377.00 Officer prosecuted and sentenced to 200 hours community service 
			 3 4,023.71 Officer dismissed 
			 4 2,199.78 Officer dismissed 
			 5 802.00 Officer resigned 
			 6 No loss Officer resigned 
			 7 3,000.00 Officer resigned 
			 8 No loss Officer received a written reprimand 
			 Total 79,962.49  
		
	
	(3) Latest period for which information is available.
	
		Table 2—2002–03 -- £
		
			 Casenumber Value of fraud Outcome 
		
		
			 1 5,300.00 Officer dismissed 
			 2 488.30 Officer dismissed 
			 3 1,807.00 Written reprimand and banned from progression for two years 
			 4 3,469.53 Officer dismissed 
			 5 135,000.00 Officer prosecuted and sentenced to 27 months in prison 
			 6 2,666.00 Officer dismissed and prosecuted with custodial sentence 
			 7 2,600.00 Officer dismissed, prosecution pending 
			 Total 151,330.83  
		
	
	
		Table 3—2001–02 -- £
		
			 Casenumber Value of fraud Outcome 
		
		
			 1 2,346.00 Written reprimand valid for five years 
			 2 2,660.72 Officer dismissed 
			 3 5,000.00 Officer resigned 
			 4 2,904.00 Officer resigned 
			 5 3,005.00 Officer dismissed 
			 6 180,000.00 Prosecution resulting in custodial sentence 
			 Total 195,915.72  
		
	
	
		Table 4—2000–01(5) -- £
		
			 Casenumber Value of fraud Outcome 
		
		
			 1 3,963.00 Information no longer available 
			 2 4,272.33 Officer resigned 
			 3 2,18.57 No disciplinary action taken 
			 4 887.18 Prosecuted, conditional discharge, officer resigned 
			 5 426.14 Formal reprimand for five years 
			 6 1,807.10 Downgraded, formal reprimand and promotion bar 
			 7 3,697.06 Information no longer available 
			 8 2,820.18 Prosecuted by police resulting in community service and order to repay 
			 9 7,631.37 Prosecuted resulting in probation and community service 
			 10 2,140.00 Information no longer available 
			 11 9,535.84 Prosecution resulting in community service and probation 
			 Total 37,398.77  
		
	
	(4) The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Figures for earlier periods relate to the former Department of Social Security.
	
		Table 5—1999–2000 -- £
		
			 Casenumber Value of fraud Outcome 
		
		
			 1 210,000.00 Prosecution resulting in custodial sentence 
			 2 30,000.00 Prosecution 
			 3 75.80 Officer dismissed 
			 4 1,753.00 Prosecution resulting in probation and community service 
			 5 4,462.97 Information no longer available 
			 6 8,820.77 Prosecution resulting in custodial sentence 
			 7 144.20 Officer resigned 
			 8 134.41 Officer resigned 
			 9 4,224.28 Officer resigned 
			 10 957.56 Prosecution resulting in fine 
			 11 17,880.80 Prosecution resulting in 150 hours community service order 
			 12 1,947.08 Information no longer available 
			 13 3,690.80 Officer dismissed 
			 14 3,255.54 Officer dismissed 
			 15 3,186.00 Officer resigned 
			 Total 290,533.21

Elderly People (Benefits)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken to ensure that elderly people receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

Malcolm Wicks: We want all eligible pensioners to take up their entitlement and initiatives are in place to encourage them to do so.
	We are currently in the main phase of our marketing campaign for pension credit and aim to have at least 3 million households in receipt of pension credit by 2006. By June 2004, we will have written to all pensioner households, to explain about the new entitlement. Direct mail is being supported by extensive TV and press advertising. From May, we intend to focus campaign activity on those pensioners who are likely to be entitled but who have not responded.
	The Pension Service Local Service is playing a key role, particularly in encouraging pensioners who are less likely to take up their entitlement to apply. We continue to work closely with organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern/at both national and local level, and with local authorities.
	Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote take up of housing benefit and council tax benefit. In order to encourage take up of council tax benefit, which has historically been lower than for other income-related benefits, we have launched a take-up campaign to help support local authorities in encouraging those who may be entitled to claim.
	The introduction of pension credit also means around 320,000 pensioner households will be newly entitled to council tax benefit. To help facilitate take up of housing benefit and council tax benefit applicants for pension credit who also want to claim these benefits are sent a claim form to return to their local authority. We have also recently introduced a shortened version of this claim form for pensioners to make the process of claiming even easier.
	Those pensioners who are entitled to the pension credit guarantee credit have linked entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit which can meet up to 100 per cent. of their rent and council tax liability. The Department is improving the take-up of attendance allowance in a targeted and well directed way. We have removed a major barrier to people claiming attendance allowance by introducing a new claim form that is much shorter, personalised and more responsive to customer needs. New information technology has been introduced throughout the organisation to speed up the decision making process and enable a better and more professional service.
	We are also working closer with partners such as local authorities and welfare rights organisations who are able to advise people about disability benefits in a far more targeted way than would be possible through any mass disability awareness campaigns.

Employment (Older People)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on older people in the workplace.

Malcolm Wicks: Our Pensions Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement' reinforced our commitment to extend employment opportunities for older people, with a range of proposals including providing extra back-to-work help for over 50s, and a number of changes to tax and pension rules which will give individuals more choice and opportunity to stay in work longer. We have pledged to tackle age discrimination in the workplace, and we will be introducing age legislation covering employment, vocational training and guidance by 2006. We have also made it clear that in the forthcoming age legislation compulsory retirement ages are likely to be unlawful, unless employers can show they are objectively justified. Employers will therefore need to adopt more flexible approaches to retirement.
	We are already encouraging employers to adopt non-ageist employment practices through our Age Positive Campaign. The campaign raises employers' awareness of the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and encourages a flexible approach to retirement to open up choice and opportunity for individuals to stay in work longer.
	In 2002 we published an updated version of the Code of Practice 'Age Diversity at work: a practical guide for business'. This sets out the standards for non-ageist approaches to recruitment, training, promotion, redundancy and retirement. The code was first developed in 1999 with leading organisations including the CBI, TUC, the Employers Forum on Age and Age Concern. Evaluation shows that from 1999 to 2001 the number of companies using age in recruitment had already fallen from 27 per cent. to 13 per cent. and the number of companies having a policy against employing older workers had dropped from 14 per cent. to 7 per cent.
	Since then we have continued to promote the business case for recruiting, training and retaining older workers through the Age Positive campaign and website, www.agepositive.gov.uk, and workshops for smaller businesses. Our research publications include 'Good Practice in the Recruitment and Retention of Older Workers' (December 2001), 'Flexible Retirement: A Snapshot of Large Employers' Initiatives' (June 2002), 'Working after State Pension Age' (2003) and 'Factors affecting the Labour Market Participation of Older Workers' (2004). Copies of these reports are available in the Library.
	From Spring 1997 to Spring 2003 our policies have helped increase the employment rate for people aged 50 to State Pension age from over 64 per cent. to over 70 per cent., with nearly 900,000 more people aged 50 and over in work. This increase has been faster than the increase in the overall employment rate. Under New Deal 50 plus over 98,000 people aged over 50 have moved off benefits and gone back to work from April 2000 to March 2003, claiming the programme's financial help. We will continue to build on this to further increase the employment rate of older workers, who have a wealth of skills and experience that can benefit individual businesses and the economy as a whole.

Employment (Older People)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the unemployment rates for the 55-plus age group in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the United Kingdom.

Des Browne: We are providing a wide range of services through Jobcentre Plus to help people aged over 55 looking for work. This includes job-search help and advice, training, and in-work financial support. These programmes have contributed to the reduction in the level of unemployment. The available information is in the table.
	
		Unemployment rate of people aged 55 or over(5)
		
			  West Midlands UK 
		
		
			 1997 5.5 5.5 
			 2002 3.5 3.3 
		
	
	(5) Figures show the unemployed, based on the International Labour Organisation definition, as a proportion of
	economically active people.
	Note:
	Data has not been aligned with Census of Population data.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, four quarter averages

EU Citizens (Benefits)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total additional cost of all benefits payable in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 financial years to citizens of EU accession states residing in the UK.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the United Kingdom public funds of those people from Poland who elect to travel to the UK from 1 May who will be eligible for social security benefits and state pensions.

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the additional cost of pension and social security payments to citizens of the 10 EU applicant states after they join in May.

Chris Pond: We are considering what measures we should take to prevent people from the acceding states from coming to the UK to take advantage of our benefit system.

EU Citizens (Benefits)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK labour market after 1 May of the absence of transitional restrictions in the UK for the nationals of the EU accession states.

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  to which (a) financial and (b) material benefits citizens of the EU accession states will be entitled in the UK after 1 May;
	(2)  to which benefits dependent children of citizens of the EU accession states resident in the UK will be entitled after 1 May.

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether he is proposing any changes to the regulations governing social security entitlements for the citizens of (a) present and (b) future EU countries;
	(2)  what changes to the social security and benefit system will be made to take account of the free movement of workers and dependants from the EU accession states from 1 May.

Chris Pond: holding answer 10 February 2004
	We are considering what measures we should take to prevent people from the acceding states from coming to the UK to take advantage of our benefit system.

EU Citizens (Benefits)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what benefits citizens of other EU countries are entitled after they have been resident in the UK for three months.

Chris Pond: We are considering what measures we should take to prevent people from the acceding states from coming to the UK to take advantage of our benefit system.

EU Citizens (Benefits)

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  under which provisions of the European Union Accession Treaty people from Poland will be permitted from 1 May to reside and work freely in the United Kingdom and be in receipt of social security benefits and state pensions when required; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to prevent Polish citizens arriving in Britain after 1 May from being eligible for social security benefits and state pensions; and what discussions he has had on the matter with his European Union counterparts.

Chris Pond: We are considering what measures we should take to prevent people from the acceding states from coming to the UK to take advantage of our benefit system.

EU Citizens (Benefits)

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what UK social security entitlements citizens of other EU countries have if they reside in the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what UK pension rights citizens of other EU countries have if they reside in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: We are considering what measures we should take to prevent people from the acceding states from coming to the UK to take advantage of our benefit system.

Family Support

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in families receiving (a) Income Support and (b) Jobseeker's Allowance are receiving support through (i) the Tax Credits system and (ii) Income Support personal allowances; and if he will make a statement on the transition between the two systems.

Chris Pond: holding answer 26 January 2004
	The latest broadly comparable Child Tax Credit, and Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance figures available are for August 2003.
	In August 2003 there were 2,224,900 dependants in families receiving Income Support, and 177,000 dependants in families receiving Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 1 . These figures include dependents in families receiving child allowances for dependants and those in families receiving Tax Credits.
	There were 186,400 dependants in families receiving Tax Credits and Income Support, and 90,000 dependants in families receiving Tax Credits and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance 2 .
	My right hon. Friend the Paymaster General will make a statement shortly on our plans for bringing Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance claimants with children into the Child Tax Credit.
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. 'Dependants' are children and young persons aged up to 19.
	Sources:
	1 Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance; five per cent. sample of the benefit computer system, Income Support at 31 August 2003, Jobseeker's Allowance at 14 August 2003.
	2 Tax Credits: Inland Revenue; mixed sample of 10 per cent. of single adults and 20 per cent. of couples claiming Tax Credits at 29 August 2003.

Income Support

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will enable recipients of income support to put aside some of their benefit to save for the purchase of a Motability vehicle without their savings affecting their entitlement to income support.

Chris Pond: Income-related benefits are intended to target help on those with the least resources. It is a long established principle that substantial amounts of capital should not be ignored when deciding entitlement to a benefit based on need, and it is for this reason that all savings are counted as capital. Claimants are free to spend their capital as they wish, so it would be inappropriate to have different rules for the treatment of capital based simply on a declaration of its intended use.
	However, there will not usually be a need for a person to have significant savings in order to lease or purchase a suitable vehicle through the Motability scheme. Generally, the cost of a suitable vehicle is met through the higher rate mobility component of their disability living allowance or war pensioners' mobility supplement. In some cases, where the cost of the chosen vehicle cannot be met from the weekly benefit payments, an advance payment must be made at the start of the relevant agreement. Motability has funds available to make discretionary payments to help meet the cost of an advance payment where Motability considers the extra cost is necessary to provide a vehicle to meet a person's basic mobility needs.

Information Technology

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what audit mechanisms are in place to determine whether all Information Technology hardware and software products are being properly utilised in his Department.

Des Browne: The Department's IT contracts require suppliers to co-operate fully with any audit requirements necessary for the Department to satisfy itself that supplier obligations are being discharged responsibly.
	Internally there are safeguards built into the Department's systems. The approach to Digital Office Infrastructure (DOI) has been designed to prevent the unauthorised installation of software on the Department's systems. For the benefit systems there are automated tools that allow the Department to scrutinise audit trail data to prevent or detect improper use of systems. In addition there are a series of management checks that are carried out regularly on key business systems.
	The Department aims to follow OGC guidance and best practice. Regarding the recommendations made in the NAO report "Purchasing and Managing Software Licences" the Department has already addressed the issues identified or has taken steps to address them.

IT Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department's main IT service provider paid Microsoft on the Department's behalf in licensing fees in each of the last three years; how much has been budgeted for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Department's main IT service provider purchases Microsoft licences through Computacenter on the Department's behalf. The figures for the last three years are as follows:
	2001–02—£17,342,701.15
	2002–03—£2,500,668.03.
	The budgeted figures for 2003–04 and 2004–05 are as follows:
	2003–04—£14,543,452.52
	2004–05—£500,000.00.
	The fluctuations in spend and budgeting are due to the way in which the rollout of hardware under the Digital Office Infrastructure (DOI) project is scheduled. This project is replacing all office desktop PCs and the software to operate them. It is the software that accounts for the bulk of the expenditure with Microsoft and by 2004–05 the refresh will be complete which explains the low forecast of £500,000.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what definition of the term "merger dividend" he uses in relation to the setting up of Jobcentre Plus, with particular regard to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight district;
	(2)  what merger dividend is to be gained from the organisational changes to his Department in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Des Browne: The Department for Work and Pensions was created in April 2001 from a merger of the former Department of Social Security and parts of the Department for Education and Employment. One of our key priorities is to make the best possible use of taxpayers' money. Around 1,100 Jobcentres and 400 social security offices inherited from the former Benefits Agency and Employment Service are being replaced with a network of around 1,000 integrated Jobcentre Plus offices. By bringing together two organisations we can derive a merger dividend because it is possible to upgrade services and teams such as HR, Finance and Management Support.
	Moreover, The Jobcentre Plus service brings job-finding and benefit services together under one roof. These new integrated offices will eventually replace all the existing Jobcentres and social security offices and this process will enable us to rationalise our estate by closing offices that are unsuitable for delivering the new service or where there are two offices covering the same area. For example in Hampshire, Liphook Office has been closed and a new office opened in Bordon. Hon. Members in Hampshire were consulted in the service delivery plans for the district in September 2002.
	The Pension Service is delivering a centralised service to pensioners supported by a local service and is closing its presence within sites shared with other parts of the organisation as work is migrated to pension centres.

Jobcentre Plus/Pension Service (Relocation)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account was taken of the Rural Plan in making decisions about the relocation of (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) Pension Service offices.

Des Browne: Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service are modernising the services we provide to our customers. Increased accessibility is one of our key objectives in modernising welfare delivery. Modernisation is helping us to deliver the commitment made in the Rural White paper to ensure access to 'high quality public services—services often delivered in new ways, and through new outlets'. We are committed to ensuring that everyone is able to access our services, whether they live in urban or rural areas. We are providing improved customer access through telephone centres, the internet and new, dedicated caller offices.
	Decisions about where services are delivered by the Department are based upon consultation with our partners such as local authorities and Regional Development Agencies, and reflect local circumstances and most importantly, the needs of the local community. The consideration of rural issues is an integral part of the consultation process. The Rural Proofing checklist produced by the Countryside Agency forms part of the initial planning process and, where appropriate, the Countryside Agency itself is consulted as a stakeholder.
	DWP produce an internal annual Rural Proofing Report for the Countryside Agency; this includes examples of how the Department has addressed service delivery issues in rural areas. DWP also regularly discusses policy development and implementation with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Countryside Agency. For example, DWP provided detailed information about development and delivery of our services for last year's rural-proofing report by the Countryside Agency. A copy of the Countryside Agency's Rural Proofing Report for 2002–3 can be found in the Library.

New Deal

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on the New Deal for Young People in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Des Browne: The information is in the table.
	
		New Deal for Young People
		
			 Financial year Spend (£ million)(6) 
		
		
			 2001–02 308 
			 2002–03(7) 339 
		
	
	(6) Includes programme and administrative spend.
	(7) Estimated outturn.
	Note:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report 2003.

New Deal

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on the New Deal for Disabled People in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Des Browne: Expenditure on New Deal for Disabled People for 2001–02 was £10 million; for 2002–03, the estimated expenditure was £27 million.
	Source
	Departmental report and the DWP Annual Report and Accounts.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research has been carried out into the wage levels of New Deal leavers; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Information on the wage levels of New Deal leavers is not collected.
	Information on the hourly take home pay of people who had left New Deal for Young People (NDYP) to go into employment was included in a national survey of participants on NDYP in 1999.
	The report of this survey (ESR44:March 2001) New Deal for Young People: National Survey of Participants: Stage 1 by Alex Bryson, Genevieve Knight and Michael White of the Policy Studies Institute, is available in the Library.

New Deal

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents are benefiting from the New Deal in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Des Browne: By the end of September 2003, 480 lone parents in the Chorley constituency and 6,480 in Lancashire 1 had found work through the New Deal for Lone Parents.
	New Deal for Lone Parents is just one of a raft of measures that we have introduced to help lone parents gain independence through moving into work. These measures have together helped to reduce the number of lone parents on income support by over 16 per cent. since May 1997.
	1 Figures are East Lancashire and West Lancashire Jobcentre Plus Districts.

Part-time Workers (Pensions)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures have been introduced since 1997 to improve pension rights for part-time workers.

Malcolm Wicks: We have introduced the state second pension (S2P) which reformed the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) in April 2002. Compared to SERPS, S2P gives more help to employees on low or moderate earnings (£4,004 to £25,600 in 2003–04 terms). It also helps certain carers and disabled people whose annual earnings are below £4,004, or have no earnings at all. So it will provide extra income in retirement for some part-time workers.
	Since 1997, we have also made it possible for part-timers to make pension contributions at a relatively low cost, and on a flexible basis, with the introduction of stakeholder pensions.
	We have also taken steps to improve access to occupational pension schemes for part-time workers. We have implemented the EU Directive 97/81/EC (the Part-time Work Directive) by introducing the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 (SI No. 1551/2000) which came into force on 1 July 2000. Under these regulations part-time workers have the right in principle not to be treated less favourably than full-time workers of the same employer who work under the same type of employment contract.
	In addition, as a result of rulings by the courts, part time workers can claim backdated access to occupational pension schemes where their previous exclusion from the relevant scheme amounted to indirect sex discrimination. Claims can be backdated to 1 April 1976 or the start of employment, if later, subject to paying relevant contributions.

Pension Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) state basic pension and (b) state second pension entitlement credits are available for carers (i) below the age of 50, (ii) above the age of 50 and (iii) above the age of 60.

Malcolm Wicks: People in receipt of Carer's Allowance are credited with National Insurance contributions each week which protect their entitlement to basic State Pension and other contributory benefits. Carers for the sick and severely disabled who are unable to get Carer's Allowance may get Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which helps to protect entitlement to basic State Pension. Carers who are getting Child Benefit for a child under 16 may also be helped by HRP.
	For State Second Pension purposes, qualifying carers who earn less than £11,200 in 2003–04 and including those with no earnings at all, are treated as if they had earned this amount and will accrue entitlement to State Second Pension.
	No distinction is made by age although people over State Pension Age cannot benefit from credits or HRP.
	Note:
	Qualifying carers for State Second Pension purposes are those who receive Child Benefit for a child under six, or are below State Pension age and entitled to Carer's Allowance or Home Responsibilities Protection for caring for a severely ill or disabled person.

Pension Schemes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what protection is afforded to workers who have lost their pension rights after their employer became insolvent under clause 8 of the EU Insolvency Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: As has been confirmed by the European Commission, we fully meet our obligations under Article 8 of the Insolvency Directive, as successive Governments have done since the Directive was adopted in 1980.
	Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Pensions Scheme Act 1993, the Redundancy Payments Directorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, makes insolvency payments from the National Insurance Fund (NIF) to qualifying former employees. The amounts payable from the NIF are subject to statutory upper limits. In addition, the Pensions Act 1995 requires salary-related schemes to meet the Minimum Funding Requirement (MFR), and provides for a statutory priority order for the distribution of a scheme's assets if a scheme that is required to meet the MFR winds up.

Pension Schemes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what obligations are placed on actuaries or trustees who are winding-up pension schemes to pay the guaranteed minimum pension.

Malcolm Wicks: Where a scheme is winding up the trustees will need to realise the assets of the scheme, pay its outstanding debts and expenses and take steps to secure the benefits of scheme members—including members' Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs).
	The assets must be applied in the order set out in scheme rules, or where the scheme is salary-related and subject to the Minimum Funding Requirement, in accordance with the statutory priority order in Section 73 of the Pensions Act 1995. After meeting scheme expenses and debts to third parties, the current (transitional) priority order is Additional Voluntary Contributions, then pensions in payment, followed by accrued contracted-out rights (including GMP), pension increases and finally non-contracted out rights.
	If there are insufficient assets to satisfy all of the liabilities in a particular category of the priority order then the liabilities in that category must be satisfied proportionately.

Pension Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate public expenditure on the state second pension in each year from 2006–07 to 2015–16 based on (a) present policies and (b) no new state second pension entitlement being accrued in respect of contributions made from 2005–06 onwards.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		Projected expenditure on the state second pension based on (a) current policies and (b) if accruals were to cease from April 2005 onwards—£ billion, 2003–04 price terms
		
			  (a) (b) 
		
		
			 2006–07 0.3 0.2 
			 2007–08 0.4 0.3 
			 2008–09 0.6 0.4 
			 2009–10 0.8 0.5 
			 2010–11 1.0 0.6 
			 2011–12 1.2 0.7 
			 2012–13 1.4 0.8 
			 2013–14 1.7 0.8 
			 2014–15 1.9 0.9 
			 2015–16 2.2 1.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The projected expenditure to pensioners shown above does not allow for (i) expenditure on state second pension paid alongside bereavement benefits to those below state pension age, (ii) expenditure on contracted-out rebates, or (iii) any effects on income-related benefit expenditure of the various policies considered.
	2. The projected expenditure has been calculated on a consistent basis to that used for the projections in the Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund as at April 2000 (Cm 6008), assuming real earnings growth of 2 per cent. a year. No allowance has been made for the effects of the most recent (2002-based) population projections, or any other information which has become available since the results underlying the Quinquennial Review were prepared.
	3. The projected expenditure relates to the GB National Insurance Fund (Northern Ireland has a separate Fund).

"Riding the Benefits Rollercoaster"

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will respond to the Citizens Advice Scotland Report, "Riding the Benefits Rollercoaster"; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: holding answer 9 February 2004
	We recognise the valuable work of Citizens Advice Scotland and will take account of the findings in their report, "Riding the Benefits Roller-coaster", in monitoring and developing relevant policies and practices.
	We have no plans to respond formally; however, my hon. Friend the Minister for Disabled People responded to many of the points raised by the report in a recent debate in Westminster Hall, 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 208–29WH.

Stakeholder Pension Scheme

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the circumstances in which voluntary contributions to a stakeholder pension scheme are treated as voluntary deprivation of capital for the purposes of Income Support; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: holding answer 26 January 2004
	If a person makes a voluntary contribution of capital to a stakeholder pension with the intention of securing or increasing entitlement to Income Support, he may be considered to have deprived himself of that capital. Decisions are based on the particular circumstances of each case and there is a right of appeal against an unfavourable decision.

Train Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Andrew Smith: I last used the train, in connection with my ministerial duties, on 13 January 2004, when I travelled from London to Bradford and back.
	All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in Travel by Ministers.

Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 were made in each year since 2000; and how many were successful.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of claims made under the Act are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Year Claims Received Claims Successful 
		
		
			 2000 171 1 
			 2001 176 2 
			 2002 (8)406 8 
			 2003 183 0 
		
	
	(8) The figure for 2002 is so much higher than other years as a result of the Regulatory Reform Order (RRO) passed in June, extending the time limits for claiming and reducing the disability threshold. The order made provision for past claimants who had been turned down on the conditions revised by the RRO to make a further claim. 571 such cases were identified and, to date 334 such claims have been received.

Welfare Modernisation Fund

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to note 9, page 25 of the report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 2004 (Cm 6117), how much the one-off payment to the Welfare Modernisation Fund was; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 2004 (Cm 6117) refers to recoveries by the Department for Work and Pensions from the National Insurance Fund for the administrative cost of national insurance benefits. These costs include expenditure on modernising the Department's infrastructure, provided by the Welfare Modernisation Fund. The amount secured by the Department through the spending review for the Welfare Modernisation Fund in 2003–04 was £680 million. Of this some £63 million was recovered from the National Insurance Fund for modernisation. These recoveries will continue over the life of the Department's modernisation programme.

Winter Fuel Payments

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received winter fuel payments in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the north-east and (e) the UK in respect of 2003–04; and what the value of such payments is in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on individual constituencies for 2003–04 will not be available until this winter's exercise is complete but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available.
	To date, there have been 11,606,326 winter fuel payments made to UK residents for the winter 2003–04 at a cost of £1,937,989,500.

Winter Fuel Payments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received winter fuel payments in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payment was in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Region Number of Payments Value(£) 
		
		
			 Winter 2002–03   
			 North West 1,349,470 204,173,800 
			 Lancashire 236,990 35,227,700 
			 Chorley 18,625 2,754,700 
			 Winter 2001–02   
			 North West 1,336,465 202,163,500 
			 Lancashire 233,025 34,601,400 
			 Chorley 18,125 2,676,800 
			 Winter 2000–01   
			 North West 1,327,910 200,923,000 
			 Lancashire 229,880 34,120,300 
			 Chorley 17,630 2,606,300 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

Workstep Programme

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many disabled people who had participated in the Workstep programme gained employment in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003;
	(2)  how much was spent by his Department on the Workstep programme in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002 and (e) 2003.

Maria Eagle: Workstep was introduced on 1 April 2001 to replace the former Supported Employment Programme. Workstep provides in-work support for disabled people who have more complex barriers to finding and keeping a job, but who, with the right support, can work effectively and develop in their job. Where it is appropriate, individual supported employees may also progress to unsupported employment.
	The programme is managed by Jobcentre Plus, which contracts with over 240 local authorities, voluntary organisations, Remploy Ltd. and private sector organisations. Supported employees work in mainstream employment with a range of organisations. In addition, some are employed in supported factories and businesses run as part of the programme.
	Since it started, the core funding allocated to Workstep has remained broadly constant at around £60 million a year. An additional £37.2 million over three years 2001 to 2004, was made available to expand the programme and to support providers to modernise and develop their delivery of the programme.
	The available information on the number of people supported through Workstep is in the following tables:
	
		Number of places filled on Workstep contracts
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Non-Remploy (number of contracted places filled) 11,852 12,133 
			 Remploy (number of people on programme) 10,523 9,543 
			 Total 22,375 21,676 
		
	
	
		Number of people progressing to unsupported employment
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Non-Remploy 554 534 
			 Remploy 1,246 1,610 
			 Total 1,800 2,144 
		
	
	Note:
	The non-Remploy figures shown in the first table represent the number of contracted places filled and are not a headcount (two part-time participants would equal one filled place.
	Source:
	DWP data.

Workstep Programme

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people employed by his Department are supported by the Workstep programme.

Maria Eagle: As of October 2003, 239 people were supported by Workstep and working within the Department for Work and Pensions. Of these, 211 were directly employed by the Department.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Departmental Staff

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Advocate-General how many staff work in the office of the Advocate-General.[R]

Lynda Clark: At present, there are two members of staff in the Private Office; four members of staff in the Legal Secretariat to the Advocate-General (of whom three are qualified Scots lawyers) and 29 in the Office of Solicitor to the Advocate-General (of whom 17 are qualified Scots lawyers). These figures represent full staffing levels.

SCOTLAND

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Alistair Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1294W.

Cross-border Public Authorities

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what cross-border public authorities exercise functions in Scotland; and when he last met the chair of each authority.

Anne McGuire: Under the Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Specification) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1319), 68 bodies were designated as cross border public authorities.
	Certain other bodies are also able to exercise functions in devolved areas in or as regards Scotland in addition to other functions.
	My right hon. Friend and I often meet members of a number of cross-border public authorities in the course of our ministerial duties.

Pre-Budget Report

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many copies of the leaflet, "What the Pre-Budget Report means for Scotland", have been produced; and what the costs of (a) producing and (b) distributing the document were.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 9 February 2004
	HM Treasury produced 1,500 leaflets on the pre-Budget report for each of the 12 countries and regions of the UK at a total cost of £2,100.
	The cost to the Scotland Office of distributing the Scotland leaflets, comprising staff (including on-costs), postage and materials costs, was approximately £150.

Scottish Economy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the Scottish economy.

Anne McGuire: The prospects for the Scottish economy are good. Unemployment is around its lowest level for a generation and employment is close to a record high. Growth figures have recently been revised upwards to better reflect real changes in the economy. Inflation and interest rates are low by historical standards. There is a growing consensus among business surveys pointing towards a continued strengthening of business activity in Scotland in both services and manufacturing. Furthermore, independent forecasters predict above-trend growth continuing in 2004 and 2005.

Scottish Parliament Members

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has collated on the number of people in Scotland who, by the end of each month of the consultation period, had (a) supported and (b) opposed the maintenance of the number of MSPs.

Anne McGuire: The responses to the consultation on the size of the Scottish Parliament were not collated on a monthly basis. The former Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell), referred to the responses in her oral statement to the House on 18 December 2002, Official Report, column 859, and a summary of the responses was placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Agriculture Subsidies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantitative assessment her Department has made of the effect of EU and US agriculture subsidies on (a) gross national product and (b) per capita income in developing countries.

Mike O'Brien: The best source of information on this topic are the large number of studies which have already been undertaken by international organisations such as the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD and the OECD, and by charitable organisations such as Oxfam. The work of these organisations demonstrates through individual case studies the severe adverse effects which dumping of subsidised agricultural products on world markets can have on developing country economies. It remains, however, very difficult to make an accurate quantitative economic assessment of the overall impact of dumping of subsidised agricultural produce on developing country markets. The World Bank have, however, estimated that the comprehensive reform of all aspects of agricultural policies in developed countries could boost the income of developing countries by as much as $100 billion.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff in her Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry have no record of staff members being investigated, suspended, dismissed, prosecuted or convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in the last six years.

Business Support

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken since 1997 to reduce the administrative burden on small and medium-sized enterprises of compliance with VAT regulations; and how many companies are eligible to benefit from these steps.

Nigel Griffiths: The UK has the best VAT threshold in the EU allowing 2 million of the smallest businesses remain outside the VAT net altogether.
	Several special schemes are aimed at simplifying VAT for small business:
	the Flat Rate Scheme available to businesses with turnovers up to £150,000 can benefit up to 700,000 SMEs;
	the Cash Accounting Scheme allows businesses to complete their VAT returns on the basis of payments received and made, rather than sales invoices issued and purchase invoices received;
	The Annual Accounting Scheme replaces four VAT returns a year with one only. This open to all businesses with a turnover of £150,000 or less, and open to businesses who have been registered for 12 months with a taxable turnover of £600,000. These two measures are used by approximately 159,000 businesses.

Business Support

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Mr. David Franklin was appointed as a small and medium-sized enterprises adviser to the Government; and in what capacity.

Nigel Griffiths: There is no record of David Franklin being appointed as a small and medium-sized enterprises adviser and he is not paid by the Government.

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reform the Small Business Loan Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Teresa Graham is currently leading an Independent Review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee. Recommendations will be published in summer 2004.

Company Directors

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proceedings in the public interest for the disqualification of company directors (a) were brought and (b) resulted in a disqualification in each year since 1997; and how many disqualifications were of directors of companies with (i) less than and (ii) more than 250 employees.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Listed as follows are the total number of proceedings brought, in the public interest, for the disqualification of directors and the outcome in disqualification orders or undertakings.
	
		
			  Proceedingsbrought Number of disqualifications 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,419 1,267 
			 1998–99 1,332 1,284 
			 1999–2000 1,497 1,540 
			 2000–01 1,456 1,548 
			 2001–02 1,575 1,761 
			 2002–03 1,775 1,594 
		
	
	The table shows the number of Disqualification Orders and Undertakings (2001–02 onwards) made under Section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act.
	On information obtained from redundancy payments; there are no figures for the number of employees for companies of disqualified directors and the answer to the (i) and (ii) could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Corporate Social Responsibility

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on corporate social responsibility issues.

Stephen Timms: I met with the Italian Minister for Welfare in April last year as part of a bilateral seminar held in Rome where we signed a joint statement on Corporate Social Responsibility. Following that event, I met with my European counterparts at the CSR conference organised in Venice in November 2003 as part of the Italian Presidency. In addition I spoke at a CSR conference in Norway where I met my Norwegian counterpart. At official level the Department also keeps in touch with fellow members states through membership of the High Level Group of National Social Representatives on CSR.

Corporate Social Responsibility

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with industry representatives on corporate social responsibility issues.

Stephen Timms: I have regular meetings with representatives from business where CSR issues are discussed. These contacts include individual meetings with business leaders as well as CSR related conferences and events. In addition DTI officials keep in touch on CSR matters with business and business organisations such as Business in the Community and CBI.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has met representatives from the UN Global Compact to discuss the global future of corporate social responsibility.

Stephen Timms: I have not met representatives of the Global Compact but the Government support this valuable initiative of Kofi Annan the UN Secretary General. My officials and FCO colleagues have maintained a close and constructive relationship with the Global Compact team to help encourage and support further developments to ensure its full potential can be realised. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contributed £105,331 to the costs of the Global Compact office over financial years 2002–04. The Department recently contributed £10,000 to an independent study commissioned by the team to assess the effectiveness of the initiative to help inform decisions about its future direction. The FCO has also contributed financially to Global Compact supported projects in China and South Africa. Through its participation in the donors' meetings in New York, the UK Mission at the UN has been closely involved in discussions and advice about the compact's future strategy and activities.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations she has recently held with business leaders to identify priorities for action in Corporate Social Responsibility; what her priorities for action in CSR are; and what incentives she will provide to businesses to encourage them to comply with her Department's CSR guidelines.

Stephen Timms: I have regular meetings with business leaders where CSR issues are discussed.
	The Government's priorities for action were set out in our Business and Society report published in May 2002. We intend to publish a further report identifying progress and outlining current priorities for Government in facilitating the spread of CSR practice.
	The Government wish to see business take greater account of the social and environmental impact of its activities, so that CSR becomes part of normal practice. Our role is to provide the framework which stimulates business voluntarily to raise their performance beyond minimum legal standards. Any government interventions need to be carefully considered, well-designed and targeted. On that basis we will consider opportunities to increase and incentives adoption and reporting of CSR, including best practice guidance, and, where appropriate, through intelligent regulation and fiscal incentives. I expect to receive next month a report from a working group chaired by Clive Mather, Chairman of Shell UK, on the promotion of CSR skills in the UK, including consideration of the proposal for a CSR academy.

Credit Records

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that people are not disadvantaged through living at an address at which the previous occupants had poor credit records; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Businesses, including credit reference agencies, holding personal data about individuals on their computer systems have to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. They must register with the Information Commissioner and comply with the principles of the Act. The Commissioner can take enforcement action against businesses who do not comply.
	When a credit reference agency receives a legitimate request for information about an individual they can provide information about:
	The individual;
	Other family members living within the same household or other people who have lived as part of the same family and;
	People with the same, or very similar name, living at the same address or who have, in the past, lived with them at the same address or last address.
	Agencies must not report information about other people who have lived at the same address but not at the same time as the individual or where it is otherwise reasonable to believe that they have no financial connection with the individual.
	Any individual can ask for their credit reference file to be corrected if it contains information about other people with whom they have no financial connection or is otherwise incorrect.
	Further information can be obtained from the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

EU Export Subsidies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the EU export subsidies whose removal would be of benefit to developing countries.

Mike O'Brien: The export subsidies whose removal would be of benefit will vary according to a developing country's comparative advantage in agricultural production. That is why I would encourage all developing countries to engage with the Commission in discussing which export subsidies should be eliminated as part of this offer.

Export Assistance

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how her Department (a) encourages and (b) assists UK businesses to export.

Mike O'Brien: A key role of UK Trade and Investment (formerly British Trade International)—a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry—is to present the benefits of internationalising business as well as equipping firms with the information and capabilities to fulfil their export potential. UKTI encourages and assists business by offering a range of services to companies, details of which are contained in its current Departmental Report issued in May 2003 (Cm 5915). UKTI's Departmental Report for 2003–04 will be issued in April 2004. Copies of Departmental Reports are laid in the Libraries of the House.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the top five clients/companies, by value, of the Export Credits Guarantee Department for each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The information is as follows:
	1998–99
	BAE Systems Ltd.
	Airbus Industrie
	Mitsui Babcock Energy Ltd.
	RWE Thames Water plc 1
	Skanska Cementation International Ltd.
	1999–2000
	BAE Systems Ltd.
	Airbus Industrie
	Alstom Power Plants Ltd.
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	Dresser Kellogg Energy Services Ltd.
	2000–01
	BAE Systems Ltd.
	Airbus Industrie
	ABN AMRO Bank NV 1
	RWE Thames Water plc 1
	Mabey and Johnson Ltd.
	2001–02
	BAE Systems Ltd.
	Airbus Industrie
	ABN AMRO Bank NV 1
	RWE Thames Water plc 1
	Mabey and Johnson Ltd.
	2002–03
	BAE Systems Ltd.
	ABN AMRO Bank NV 1
	Airbus Industrie
	Westland Helicopters Ltd.
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	Customers are listed by the value of issue/renewed guarantees.
	1 These represent Overseas Investment Insurance cases (covering either equity investments or loans).

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's assessment of the debt owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department by other nations; what assessment has been made of how much of these debts can be recovered and from whom; how her Department plans to recover them; and what targets have been set for their recovery.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 18 December 2003
	ECGD claims payments resulting from sovereign default are generally recovered through the Paris Club of Official Creditors. Paris Club creditors act in concert to agree appropriate debt restructuring with countries in difficulty.
	Through this route, ECGD usually receives between £300 million and £400 million per annum. As at 30 September 2003 there were agreements with 46 countries owing ECGD a total of £10 billion. ECGD expects to recover the majority of this debt together with additional moratorium interest.
	It is expected that the unsustainable debt of the heavily indebted poor countries still remaining will be written off over the next few years.
	ECGD makes provisions against loss. In preparing statutory resource accounts ECGD estimates the recoverable element of outstanding paid claims based on sound valuation principles and assumption methodologies that conform to best practice as recognised and used by the major financial institutions in assessing similar risks.
	For non-Paris Club debt ECGD similarly makes a regular assessment of the likely recoverability of debt where default has occurred. It then sets targets accordingly. ECGD uses a wide range of strategies to recover such debt, in line with best market practice and focuses its resources accordingly.

Faraday Partnerships

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new products and processes have been brought to the market place as a result of each of the Faraday partnerships in each year since 2000.

Patricia Hewitt: The network of 24 Faraday Partnerships were selected for DTI support between 1999 and 2002. The Partnerships are currently engaged in research that will produce the new products and processes of the future. Nonetheless, there is an emerging roster of products and processes already beginning to reach the market.
	The products and processes brought to market by each Faraday in 2003 are as shown below. It can take longer in some sectors to advance from concept and research to product or process than in others and those Faradays which have been in operation for longer have generally brought to market more new products and processes than those who have only recently begun work.
	Partnerships selected in 1999 (had been receiving EPSRC support since 1997)
	Imaging [storage, retrieval, interpretation and secure management of images]
	Five products (two from new spin-out companies), including imaging systems to assist doctors in monitoring how babies with reconstructive surgery (e.g. cleft palate repairs) grow and develop, and services in the creative media (film etc.) industries in generating fully-realistic 3D human images.
	INTErSECT [intelligent sensors for control technologies]
	Seven products and two services (consulting services) established as a direct result of Intersect support and activities, (of these two are new spin-out company related). These include emissions monitoring devices for motor vehicles, and fibre-optic systems for pressure sensing in the oil industry.
	Faraday Packaging Partnership [advanced packaging]
	Two entirely new products: most activities involve working with companies and academia to improve existing products rather than the development of completely new ones. The Partnership is moving into the area of Affective Design, linking psychology and design with engineering.
	PRIME [products comprising interdependent mechanical and electronic components]
	Seven products and four process innovations brought to market in 2003. These have included a miniature thruster for applications in underwater remotely operated vehicles, new process capability for large area flexible circuits in the automotive sector, and an intelligent machine-vision directed laser materials production system for textile machinery.
	Partnerships selected in 2000
	Advance [advanced materials for the automotive and aerospace sectors]
	No specific new products or processes as yet.
	Food Processing Faraday
	Six working engineering prototypes of improved universally applicable machinery for unit processes in food manufacturing; two of these are now being scaled up with equipment suppliers and food manufacturers.
	Impact [applications of colloid technology]
	Five new products (smart wound dressing substrate, conducting plastic films, novel lasers, combined AFM/analysis techniques, novel catalysts for fuel cells) and four new processes (screen printing, tablet production, and two novel routes to nanoparticle production).
	One of the new products has resulted in the development of a smart material for use in wound dressings.
	The Faraday Partnership for Industrial Mathematics
	Three products, including a novel multi-phase milk-flow meter; a new product incorporating a capability to determine absolute position in a plane from local observation and an algorithm to resolve a problem of approximately 10 years standing concerning the solution of polynomial equations.
	Faraday Plastics
	Seven processes and three products, including the production of fire-resistant polyurethane foam using nano-clay fillers; improved flow in polymer processing using CO2 in an environmentally friendly manner and a new process for producing specialised oilfield components in advanced engineering polymers.
	Technitex [technical textiles]
	Eleven new products or processes involving textiles for engineering and medical use. Partnerships selected in 2001
	COMIT [communications and mobile information technology]
	Three products using materials invented and tested by the Partnership. four further devices are being tested and sampled.
	Crystal [green technology for the chemical and allied industries]
	No new products or processes but three near-to-market technologies are in the innovation pipeline as a result of Crystal activity: a demonstrator project for VOC recovery, a new manufacturing process for an inorganic compound and novel catalysts for selective oxidation processes.
	EPPIC [electronics and photonics packaging interconnect]
	Seven processes (including training in new electronic assembly techniques, advanced soldering, transfer to Pb-free materials).
	Five pre-production products including a medical device, a novel electronic device, a novel safety lighting system and a metal nanocrystal coating process.
	FIRST [remediation of the polluted environment]
	An enhanced on-site soil testing system has been launched enabling rapid risk assessment of contaminated sites.
	A range of courses have been implemented to meet the training needs of the environmental consultancy market where raising standards and developing best practice is crucial to contaminated land management.
	High-Power Radio Frequency Engineering
	Three projects in support of the low carbon economy in minerals extraction, manufacture of transport components and automated bakery equipment and one in the area of recycling to reclaim the wood fibres from waste MDF.
	INREB [integration of new and renewable energy in buildings]
	INREB currently has 13 products and processes under development. None has yet reached the market, however.
	Pro-Bio [biocatalytic manufacturing processes]
	No products released to market but several in development including a catalysis web site, an enzyme screening kit and an ionic liquid screening kit.
	Smart Optics [optical systems that dynamically adjust]
	No products released to market, but 25 projects in hand.
	Partnerships selected in 2002
	These Partnerships are still in the very early stages of their development:
	Genesis [farm animal genomics and genetics]
	No products of processes yet: but the Partnership has been instrumental in facilitating UK participation in the international programme to sequence and annotate the bovine genome.
	Insight [high through-put technologies]
	No products or processes yet but there are several projects in hand (e.g. devices for high through-put corrosion testing) which are expected to reach the market by 2005. Medical Devices
	No products or processes yet, but the Partnership has been instrumental in speeding up the overall process for existing commercialisation plans. Examples include a new device to measure central venous pressure to assist surgeons in critical heart and trauma surgery which is now about six months from market.
	Mini-Waste [novel technologies for the minimisation of industrial waste]
	No products or processes yet
	Pinpoint [global navigation satellite system applications]
	No products or processes yet.
	PowderMatrix [powder-based manufacturing]
	No products or processes yet.

Fisheries

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on recent developments on vessel eligibility for the Compensation Scheme for Former Icelandic Water Trawlermen.

Nigel Griffiths: On 1 February 2004 I issued a list of twenty-one new vessels for inclusion on the list of Icelandic water vessels. These follow consideration of evidence put forward by trawlermen and their representatives concerning vessels that fished within 200 miles of Iceland but that had not previously been included on the list of valid vessels. There is now an appeal period until 23 February 2004 to submit further evidence on appeal against any vessels that have not accepted onto the list. This will be assessed in the same way as the evidence submitted so far and against the criteria announced in November 2003.
	Once the list has been finalised, the Department will re-examine claims from trawlermen who worked on these boats and pay additional compensation to those who qualify for it. This will happen automatically—there is no need for claimants to re-apply.

Gas/Electricity Market

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps Ofgem is taking to ensure that (a) gas and (b) electricity customers are aware of the possibilities of saving money by switching utilities supplier;
	(2)  what steps Ofgem is taking to ensure that (a) gas and (b) electricity companies do not charge existing customers more than new customers;.
	(3)  what steps Ofgem is taking to ensure that domestic users of electricity benefit as much as commercial and industrial users of electricity from the implementation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements.

Stephen Timms: These are matters for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). I understand that the Chairman of OFGEM will write to the hon. Member about the matters he has raised.

Grocery Market

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the (a) Office of Fair Trading and (b) her Department will assess acquisition strategies in the convenience sector of the grocery market.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The competition authorities consider each acquisition on a case-by-case basis against the provisions of the Enterprise Act, if it reaches the qualifying thresholds for consideration. The Department of Trade and Industry has no role in this consideration.

Grocery Market

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact on the consumer of dominance by large chains of the mainstream grocery market;
	(2)  what plans she has to increase (a) fair competition for retailers and (b) choice for consumers in the convenience sector of the grocery market.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been several reports by the Competition Commission over the past few years on the supermarket sector. The Competition Commission's report "Supermarkets: a report on the supply of groceries from multiple stores in the United Kingdom", published on 10 October 2000, found that the market was broadly competitive as far as consumers were concerned.
	It is the role of the independent competition authorities to assess the impact of dominance by large chains in the grocery market, and whether or not such dominance may be against the public interest. It is also the responsibility of the competition authorities to ensure that competition rules are not infringed and to investigate any alleged breaches.

Group 3 Employment Cases

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many disputed Group 3 employment cases there are.

Gerry Sutcliffe: 567 Group 3 claims have entered the disputes procedure to date.
	Of these 237 are in informal dispute, 23 are in formal dispute and 307 have now reached conclusion.

Indonesia

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances official meetings relating to Indonesia have been attended by the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson); for what purposes; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 3 February 2004
	I am told that my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool has not attended official meetings relating to Indonesia held by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Information Technology (Women)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what target her Department has set for the number of women working in information and communication technology; and what strategy her Department has to achieve this target.

Stephen Timms: The Department of Trade and Industry does not have any targets specific to women working in information and communication technology, but is working to increase the participation of women in this sector, as well s others through the work of a new dedicated Resource Centre for Women in science, engineering and technology (SET). The Resource Centre is part of the Government's Strategy, published in April 2003 as a response to Baroness Greenfield's SET Fair Report. The Government will look to the new Resource Centre to carry out specific tasks in support of its overarching objective to work with employers to improve the position of women in SET: recognition for good SET employers; the sharing of good employment practice; disseminating and sharing information; setting up and maintaining an expert women's database; maintaining and disseminating statistics; raising the profile of women in SET; pump-priming innovation through developing, with others, support for initiatives such as mentoring, networking, speaker's bursaries and mobility issues; supporting returners; and coordinating the work of women in science organisations. It will draw on the experience of women and women in science organisations to do this and co-ordinate their activity to achieve critical mass.
	The JIVE Consortium has been chosen to run the resource centre. This is a consortium of Sheffield Hallam University, Bradford College, the Open University and Cambridge University through its WiSETI (Women in Science, Engineering and Technology) Project. Between them they have extensive knowledge of, and standing in, all the sectors of SET (including ITEC) and the built environment. The Government is providing funding of £800,000 per annum to cover all the activities of the centre. Additional funding of £500,000 is available to the resource centre for a returners' scheme, to gather feedback on existing schemes as soon as it can, and develop a strategic plan for the future investment of these additional funds. DfES will also contribute £200,000 to the Resource Centre for schemes aimed at undergraduates. The Consortium members proposed to deliver a Resource Centre that represents all sectors in which there are high levels of occupational segregation for women in science, engineering, technology, and the built environment and intend to be relevant to all women whether working at professional, technician or craft level.
	It will be important for the centre to work in partnership with professional SET bodies and others in the SET community, with organisations such as the CBI, the TUC, large and small employers, and the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The new centre will be expected to raise funds from other sources both private and public. It is expected that organisations that want partnership with an support from the resource centre will contribute resources, both to specific projects and to allow the centre to operate more widely, to maximise the leverage of the initial public finding to the centre.
	To increase the number of women who can maintain their SET carers and are able to return after a career break, as well as achieve their potential through promotion and engagement in policy making circles, they need access to opportunities for self- development, and to meet people who can introduce them to these opportunities. Mentoring is acknowledged as a key tool in personal development and empowerment. The Promotion SET for Women Unit is funding a pilot three-year national mentoring scheme for women in SET. The Project is being delivered through two organisations—the Women's Engineering Society and the Association of Women in Science and Engineering. Four blue chip companies including Astra Zeneca, BAE Systems, Demag Delaval Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd. and Ford are also supporting the project. The pilot mentoring scheme will use industrial mentoring training programmes in order to train mentors and prepare mentees. They project is well under way and over 60 mentors and mentees have been matched, and mentoring has commenced.

Milk Marque

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the Competition Report into the operation of the former dairy producer co-operative Milk Marque;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of the progress of farmer co-operatives created following the break up of Milk Marque.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following publication of the Monopoly and Mergers Commission report "Milk: a report on the supply in Great Britain of raw cows milk" in July 1999, the Milk Marque co-operative voluntarily split into three independent enterprises—Axis, Zenith and Milk Link. All three are still operating, although Axis and Zenith subsequently merged with other enterprises and now trade as Dairy Farmers of Britain and First Milk respectively.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1174W, on miners' compensation, for what reason the initial discussions about a direct agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers were not pursued.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 11 February 2004
	In May 1998 my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) invited the NUM to contribute to the Claims Handling Arrangements through their solicitors, Raleys. Raleys, although not one of the firms chosen to negotiate directly with the Department, were members of the Claimants' Solicitors Group represented by these firms. Raleys were kept informed and asked to contribute to the negotiations on numerous occasions throughout the process.
	The NUM declined this opportunity and Mr. Scargill made it clear in a letter of 20 May 1999 that he would
	"not be bound by any agreement reached by any Steering Committee or grouping of solicitors".
	The NUM have subsequently declined the offer of further meetings.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average payment in compensation received was in cases fully settled under the chest disease compensation scheme by claimants (a) who have had their claims processed by the Union of Democratic Mineworkers Nottingham section subsidiary company Vendside and (b) who have had their claims processed by all other solicitors in England.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 15 January 2004
	The average full and final payment received by claimants through the UDM is £5,213 and the average full and final payment received by claimants through all other solicitors in England is £6,810.

Miners' Compensation

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will announce the minimum payment under the Miners' Compensation Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: At the court hearing on 3 February 2004 the judge made it clear that if offers were in line with the Agreement, following the High Court judgment, then the issue of low-value offers was for the solicitors to consider further, not the DTI.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last used a train in connection with her ministerial duties.

Patricia Hewitt: 6 February 2004.

Money Laundering

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to tackle the misuse of UK-based companies to facilitate money laundering and illegal asset transfer from other countries; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK has a comprehensive set of defences against money laundering which make us one of the least attractive countries in the world for money launderers to operate. The system has been strengthened considerably in recent months, with new primary and secondary legislation and a major programme to strengthen the systems for industry to report on possible money laundering.
	The DTI works closely with the Treasury and Home Office over devising a legislative framework that deters and detects money laundering. I have powers to appoint company inspectors and to require information from companies under the Companies Acts. My Department is aware of its responsibility to report any evidence of possible money laundering to the National Criminal Intelligence Service and when we uncover such transactions we do so. We have close working relationships with other UK regulators and law enforcement agencies. We have powers to assist overseas regulators and can seek their help if we need it.

National Minimum Wage

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 781W, on wage levels, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions have been brought against employers found not to be complying with the national minimum wage in each year since the introduction of the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Inland Revenue has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal but successfully resolves the great majority of cases through conciliation without enforcement action being needed. As a result, to date there have been no criminal prosecutions in relation the underpayment of the minimum wage.

Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what percentage of man hours involved in the construction of offshore oil and gas facilities destined for UK waters are required by her Department to be based in the UK;
	(2)  what regulatory regime governs the UK labour content of the construction of facilities for the oil and gas industries based on the UK continental shelf.

Stephen Timms: DTI's Energy Group does not stipulate the involvement of UK nationals, or UK companies, when awarding licences under the Petroleum Act.
	Procurement in relation to hydrocarbon exploration and production is a matter solely for the field operator whose actions are governed by The Utilities Contracts Regulations 1996 which require competitive tendering processes.
	Government support the principle of competitive tendering within Europe—as its use is essential if the cost of development on the UK's maturing continental shelf is to be reduced.
	DTI works with the industry supply chain in this sector, to improve competitiveness, particularly of UK-based fabricators. These companies, where they have the capability, have won, in open market competition, around two thirds of the value of the contracts on recent UKCS developments.

Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the European Commission concerning fair competition in the supply of installations for the gas and oil industry on the UK continental shelf.

Stephen Timms: DTI has, in recent times, made no interventions with, or representations to, the European Commission concerning fair competition in the supply of installations for the gas and oil industry on the UKCS. However I would be very concerned should there be any anti-competitive behaviour in this sector. If officials are supplied with clear evidence of anti-competitive practise, such as illegal subsidies or abuse of a dominant market position, the matter will be taken to the commission urgently. The commission would need clear evidence of such practices to take action.

Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the principal conditions attached to the licence issued by her Department to EnCana to develop the Buzzard field in the North Sea were.

Stephen Timms: The Buzzard field extends into acreage covered by two Petroleum Act Licences: P928, awarded in 1995, and P986, awarded in 1998. Both of these licences were issued on the terms and conditions that were standard for Seaward Production Licences at the time: for instance, a six-year initial term, to be followed by a 12-year second term and an 18-year final term. Neither was issued to EnCana in the first instance.
	The principal conditions of P928 are based, subject to minor amendments, on the Model Clauses set out in Schedule 4 to the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 no. 1213), as amended by the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990 no. 1332) and the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992 no. 2378).
	The principal conditions of P986 are based, subject to minor amendments, on the Model Clauses set out in Schedule 4 to the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988 no. 1213), as amended by Offshore Safety Act 1992 and the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995 no. 1435) and the Petroleum (Production) (Seaward Areas) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996 no. 2946), except for the amendments made by Regulations 8(a) (ii) and 8(c) to 8(h) .
	Both licences were additionally subject to a series of conditions specific to the particular acreage. These appeared under the headings: "Environmental Seismic/Drilling", "Oil-spills", "Defence and National Security Matters" and "Fisheries, Shipping and other Interests" in the case of P928; and "General", "Environmental/Seismic and Drilling", "Oil spills", and "Fisheries and other interests" in the case of P986.
	The Buzzard field development was granted consent in 2003, subject to standard conditions that are common to such consents.

Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to enforce European Union health and safety at work standards at each stage of the construction and installation process in projects for Britain's offshore oil and gas industries; and what the relationship is between health and safety legislation and her Department's licensing regime.

Stephen Timms: European Union health and safety at work standards, as set out in EU Directives, are implemented in Great Britain and in respect of the UK offshore oil and gas industries through the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and subordinate health and safety regulations. This legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The legislation is entirely separate from DTI's licensing regime under the Petroleum Act.

Operating and Financial Review

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to publish the draft regulations for the forthcoming Operating and Financial Review; and what technical improvements have been recommended to her Department for the Review.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government intends to publish draft regulations on the Operating and Financial Review (OFR) for consultation as soon as possible. These will take account of over 250 responses dealing with the OFR to the White Paper, "Modernising Company Law", published in July 2002, as well as of European legislation and of further analysis.

Phoenix Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for Phoenix funds have been (a) submitted and (b) accepted for each nation in the UK since its inception; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Information for the Phoenix Fund is as follows:
	
		
			 Country Applications received Applications accepted 
		
		
			 England 945 236 
			 Northern Ireland 1 1 
			 Scotland 1 1 
			 Wales 0 0 
		
	
	The Government have allocated resources to promote enterprise in disadvantaged areas and under-represented groups. In England, that allocation has been designated as the Phoenix Fund. The devolved Administrations, who have responsibility for business support in their own countries, have made separate arrangements for using their allocations. However, for reasons of economy of scale and to ensure consistency with other existing provision, a limited number of elements of the Phoenix Fund provision to support Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) apply across the whole of the UK.

Phoenix Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will assess the (a) uptake and (b) effectiveness of the Phoenix Fund in disadvantaged communities.

Nigel Griffiths: The uptake of the Phoenix Fund has been encouraging. The Phoenix Development Fund is supporting over 90 projects testing out innovative approaches in providing business support for disadvantaged communities and under-represented groups. Up until the end of September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available, these projects had helped in the creation of some 7,700 new enterprises and assisted over 7,100 existing businesses.
	Among other projects being funded is the work of 55 Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) that provide finance to businesses unable to obtain it from other sources. Up until the end of December 2003, those CDFIs have made over 1,050 loans to the value of over £6.5 million that have resulted in the creation of some 1,860 jobs in over 1,000 new and existing businesses.
	The effectiveness of the Fund is currently being evaluated. An interim report of an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the Phoenix Development Fund is due to be published shortly. A final report will be published in the second half of 2004. An independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the first two rounds of support for CDFIs is currently underway and will report in April.

Phoenix Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) current and (b) projected budget for 2004–05 is of the Phoenix Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: In 1999 the Phoenix Fund was established with a budget of £30 million through to 2002–03 to promote enterprise in disadvantaged areas and under-represented groups. A further £70 million was allocated to the Fund in the 2000 Spending Round for 2001–02 to 2003–04. As a result of the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review £50 million was allocated to the Fund for 2004–05—2005–06.
	The budget for the Fund in 2003–04 is £30 million and £25 million in 2004–05.

Phonographic Industry

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence she has collated on the purchase of compact discs at discount prices on the internet and subsequent surcharges imposed by the British Phonographic Industry.

Patricia Hewitt: I do not have information on the specific facts behind the dispute between BPI and CD WOW! However, I understand that CD WOW! have agreed not to import products from outside the European Economic Area to satisfy customers in the UK. I do not believe there is an issue of surcharges involved.

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether investment activity rates will achieve their investment targets for the regional venture capital fund.

Nigel Griffiths: At 31 January 2004, eight funds have invested £21 million in 86 SMEs.
	The Funds were launched to stimulate more finance for small businesses and address market weaknesses in the provision of finance.
	I am advised that, even at this early stage, the proposed investment targets will be met.

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to introduce a standardised definition across each region of an application to a regional venture capital fund.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government encourages the fund managers of these commercial funds, managed by experienced venture capital specialists, to share best practice in areas like the quality of applications.

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how her Department is (a) monitoring and (b) evaluating the performance of regional venture capital funds.

Nigel Griffiths: The Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA) requires the RVCF Fund Manager to establish and report progress of the fund to an Advisory Committee on a regular meeting cycle. Both the DTI and the local Regional Development Agency have a seat on the Advisory Committee for each RVCF. The LPA also requires the fund manager to supply regular reports to investors.
	The report of an Early Assessment of the RVCF Programme can be found on the website www. businesslink.gov.uk/regional-venture-capital-fiind.

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department will publish measurements of the impact of regional venture capital funds on the wider economy.

Nigel Griffiths: The first two of these 10-year funds were established in January 2002 and the last one in July 2003 .
	It is too early to make an assessment of their impact.

Small Businesses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what feedback she has received from small companies in relation to the impact of the higher marginal rate on profits in the band £10,000 to £50,000 since its introduction; and what her assessment is of the impact.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The introduction of lower rates of corporation tax has reduced the corporation tax liability of small companies, and has been welcomed by business. The introduction of the starting rate of corporation tax in April 2000, now at 0 per cent., and the reduction in the small companies' rate in April 2002 to 19 per cent. will together have reduced the CT liability of companies who make profits of between £10,000 and £50,000 by £2,000 at the lower end of this range to £500 at the higher end.

Small Businesses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the (a) total and (b) yearly small business service budget was devoted to deregulatory initiatives in each year since its inception.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Administration costs (£000) Percentage of total 
		
		
			 2000–01 725 10 
			 2001–02 1,061 10.8 
			 2002–03 1,505 12.7 
			 2003–04 1,530 12.5

Small Businesses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have benefited from the Small Business Loan Scheme in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each of the last three years.

Nigel Griffiths: The following table shows the number of companies that have benefited from the Small Firms Loan Guarantee in the North West, Lancashire and Chorley in the last three years.
	
		
			 Financial year North West Lancashire Chorley 
		
		
			 2000–01 371 141 3 
			 2001–02 451 142 4 
			 2002–03 417 122 6 
			 2003–04(9) 512 156 7 
		
	
	(9) Ten months to 31 January 2004

SMART Awards

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of the SMART awards in boosting enterprise in the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: In 2001–02 the SMART scheme helped 1,140 small firms with grants or grant offers of £47 million. This is a record take-up and a substantial increase on the 800+ awards in 2000–02. It is estimated that the impact of SMART has boosted the economy by an extra £500 million pa and generated an extra £270 million in exports.
	The new Grant for Research and Development builds on the success of the SMART scheme.

UK Online for Business

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms were given assistance with internet business solutions by UK online for business, in each year since its inception.

Stephen Timms: Since inception, UK online for business has helped several hundred thousand businesses, with over 250,000 interactions with businesses each year. UK online for business offers a wide range of impartial jargon-free information through our adviser network, publications, interactive business tools, a programme of events a comprehensive website and a national network of business advisers who deliver frontline advice to SMEs.
	UK Online for business has over 450 partners, which comprise of key partners and a combination of small companies, intermediaries (TAs, professional bodies etc.), local authorities and other Government Departments. We provide a package of support for our advisers/partners who run events. In the financial year 2002–03, 779 events were supported with an estimated SME audience of 161,307. So far this financial year 2003–04 we have supported 528 events with an estimated SME audience of 77,000.
	We have over 120 publications some of which are interactive covering a range of business and technical topics. In January 2002, UK online for business launched the existing website, where registered users have increased from 6,876 in April 2002 to over 30,000 in January 2004. In the last year financial year UK online for business call centres dealt with 15,000 calls, 13,500 emails and distributed 1.6 million items of collateral.

Wind Turbines

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what standards regulate aerodynamically generated wind noise in residential areas; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Currently planning authorities take into account the recommendations and methodologies for the measurement of noise in the case of wind farms as set out in the report 'ETSU-R-97: The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms'.
	The report is available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/publications/noise assessment.shtml.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the United States since the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun about the likely impact of the United States Farm Bill on the (a) economies of, and (b) living standards in, developing countries.

Mike O'Brien: The Government conducted intensive discussion with the United States officials and Ministers when the US Farm Bill was first introduced in 2002. Since Cancun there has been on-going contact between UK and US officials about all aspects of the WTO Round, including on the question of US domestic subsidies and their potential impact on the livelihoods of producers in developing countries.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will identify the ways in which representatives of developing countries at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference at Cancun judged that the transparency of the negotiating process was better than at Seattle and Doha.

Mike O'Brien: Wider consultations by the Chairman of the General Council in the months leading up to Cancun, daily meetings for all Heads of Delegation and an open structure for the discussion sessions at the ministerial conference in Cancun itself gave considerable opportunity to make views clear. We need to maintain the benefits from these changes of process at future WTO ministerials.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what type of armoured patrol vehicles are available to British troops in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 February 2004
	There are currently 10 Saxon light armoured personnel carriers deployed with British Forces in Kabul.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future plans for an expanded NATO peacekeeping mission in Northern Afghanistan; and what the British involvement will be.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom strongly supports the further expansion beyond Kabul of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under NATO, and will play its full part in helping the Alliance to make that goal a reality. In particular, and subject to the agreement of our partners in NATO and the ISAF, we are ready to build upon the success of our Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Mazar-e-Sharif and play a leading role in expanding the ISAF in Northern Afghanistan. Final decisions on the nature of our future military commitment to the ISAF will depend on the outcome of NATO operational planning, and agreement with our partners in the ISAF.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aircraft carriers he plans to have available for service in 2014.

Adam Ingram: On current plans, the first of the larger and more capable CVF class of aircraft carriers will be in service in 2014.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it remains his policy that the Invincible Class carriers shall remain in service until replaced by the new aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy Invincible Class carriers (CVS) will be replaced as part of a phased replacement programme by the larger and more capable carriers (CVF) in the first half of the next decade.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the decommissioning date of HMS Ark Royal has been brought forward to 2013.

Adam Ingram: The decommissioning date for HMS Ark Royal has not been brought forward. On current plans it remains towards the end of 2013.

Apache Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Apache helicopters are in use at RAF Shawbury;
	(2)  how many Apache helicopters are in storage at RAF Shawbury; and what their value is;
	(3)  for how long Apache helicopters have been in storage at RAF Shawbury;
	(4)  whether the Apache helicopters at RAF Shawbury have been paid for.

Adam Ingram: Storage of Apache Mkl aircraft at RAF Shawbury commenced in June 2002. There are now 25 aircraft at RAF Shawbury with a value of £27 million each that have been accepted and paid for. Each Apache in storage is fully maintained and supported but is not used operationally or for training purposes from RAF Shawbury.

Army Training

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what minimum training requirements are in place for the (a) Regular Army and (b) Territorial Army prior to deployment on operations.

Adam Ingram: As a minimum, Regular personnel are to have completed their mandatory Individual Training Directives (Army) and the Pre-Deployment Training package delivered by the Operational Training and Advisory Group.
	As a minimum, Territorial Army personnel have to be designated 'Fit For Role' and attend the Reinforcement Holding Unit for an eight day period of intensive revision of their Individual Training Directives (Army) prior to deployment. They also receive the same mandatory theatre-specific Pre-Deployment Training provided to Regular personnel.

Challenger II Tanks

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Challenger II tanks are currently operational.

Adam Ingram: As at January 2004, 58 per cent. of our Challenger II Main Battle Tanks available for operations were classed as 'Fit'. Equipment is deemed to be 'Fit' if it meets the inspection criteria stated in the relevant Army Equipment Support Publication Inspections Standards for all operational and peacetime legal and safety requirements. Many of the tanks classified as not 'Fit' require only minor work in terms of spares or labour to rectify the problem, and many of these would be able to undertake their prescribed role in an operational environment.

Civil Contingency Reaction Force

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the reservists who make up the operational capability of Civil Contingency Reaction Forces are on active duty overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Currently, 852 members of the Civil Contingency Reaction Forces (CCRFs) are mobilised overseas, or on active service in the UK.
	This will not affect the operational capability of the CCRFs.

Consultation Documents

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the individuals and organisations to whom (a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultation document, The Armed Forces Pensions Scheme Review.

Ivor Caplin: The consultation documents on the new pension and compensation schemes were issued in March 2001 by the Ministry of Defence. We are not aware of any copies distributed by the Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies. Copies were sent to the Commanding Officers of every Unit, with a summary leaflet for distribution to all serving personnel. The documents were also placed on the MOD's intranet and Internet sites. In addition, copies were sent to other interested Government Departments, the principal ex-Service organisations, the Defence Select Committee, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, the Pension Appeal Tribunals and other interested bodies. The Consultation Reports published on each scheme are on the MOD website and provide a full list of those who responded.

Defence Exports (UK Employment)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the York University study estimating the impact on UK employment of the Government's promotion of export sales of defence equipment;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the increase in UK employment attributable to the Government's promotion of export sales of defence equipment.

Adam Ingram: In an assessment undertaken in December 2001, the Department welcomed the York University report on the costs and benefits of defence exports, and endorsed its broad conclusions, while expressing reservations about some of the assumptions made.
	Estimates of UK employment dependent on defence exports are published annually in the UK Defence Statistics and on-line at: www.dasa.mod.uk. The Defence Export Services Organisation fulfils a fundamental role in implementing the Government's policy of supporting legitimate UK defence exports. In 2002, the UK defence industry signed export sales orders worth just over £5 billion and successive customer Satisfaction Surveys of the UK defence industry have revealed that over 75 per cent. of this business would not have been achieved without the assistance of DESO.

Defence Medical Services

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future accommodation of nursing staff accommodated at (a) Keogh Barracks, Aldershot and (b) Fort Blockhouse, Gosport.

Ivor Caplin: There are no nursing staff at Keogh barracks.
	Nursing staff accommodated at Fort Blockhouse comprise two groups—Nursing staff employed in the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) Portsmouth and student military nurses studying at the University of Portsmouth.
	On MOD's withdrawal from the management of the Royal Hospital Haslar by 31 March 2007, future options for the accommodation of MDHU nursing staff will be developed in line with progress on the construction of the new Queen Alexandra's Hospital, Cosham.
	Military nurse education has been transferred progressively from Portsmouth to Birmingham since September 2001. The MOD is considering a number of options for the future provision of Service accommodation at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.

Defence Medical Services

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment and (b) current strength is of each medical specialty in the Defence Medical Services.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 October 2003, the latest period for which figures are available, the Defence Medical Services had a trained strength of 414 doctors, against an establishment of 655. These figures, broken down by specialty, are as follows:
	
		
			 Specialty Establishment Trained strength 
		
		
			 Secondary care consultants   
			 Anaesthetics 55 33 
			 General Physicians 26 22 
			 Dermatology 3 3 
			 Paediatrics 2 2 
			 Genito Urinary Medicine 2 1 
			 General Surgery 35 23 
			 Urology 4 3 
			 Orthopaedic Surgery 25 17 
			 Burns and Plastics 5 4 
			 Accident and Emergency 11 5 
			 Psychiatry 23 11 
			 Ophthalmic Surgery 3 3 
			 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 11 7 
			 ORL 5 3 
			 Rheumatology and Rehabilitation 7 6 
			 Radiology 11 8 
			 Pathology 9 0 
			 Haematology 1 2 
			 Histopatholoy 0 4 
			 Microbiology 2 3 
			 Aviation Medicine 6 1 
			 Sub Total (a) 246 161 
			
			 Primary care consultants and GPs   
			 GD (Occupational Medicine 25 29 
			 Diving 4 2 
			 Radiation 5 5 
			 Aviation (Royal Navy and Army) 6 12 
			 GD (Public Health) 5 8 
			 General Practice 364 197 
			 Sub Total (b) 409 253 
			 Total (a+b) 655 414 
		
	
	Note:
	The establishment is the list of funded clinical posts/appointments as of October 2003.
	The trained strength represents the number of Consultants and GMPs in each specialty as at 1 October 2003.
	In addition to the clinical posts, there are an additional 104 command and staff posts that are currently required to be filled by clinical personnel from the trained strength.

Foreign Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 245W, where information on the foreign aircraft hired by his Department is held; on what basis the decision was reached that information on the use of foreign aircraft could be provided only at disproportionate cost; who took this decision; and whether the Department has previously provided information on hire of foreign aircraft.

Adam Ingram: Information relating to the charter of the majority of aircraft for the Ministry of Defence is held by the Defence Transport and Movements Agency (DTMA). As the Department operates disaggregated budgets, it is possible that other parts of the Ministry of Defence could have chartered aircraft over the last five years and in that event, such information is not held centrally. The Department has no requirement to record specifically information relating to makes, types and origins of aircraft chartered. The Department competes its charter business in accordance with European rules and often through a broker in order to achieve value for money. Safety is of paramount importance and the nationality of the aircraft is but one consideration in the assessment of suitability for task.
	The decision that information on foreign aircraft chartered could be provided only at disproportionate cost was made by the Chief Executive of the DTMA. It was based on a calculation that the exercise would entail one member of DTMA being removed from normal duties to work only on this task for a minimum of five working days. This period would exceed the cost threshold of £600 and have a detrimental effect on the daily work of air movements. DTMA would also have to contact all other parts of the Department, and re-engage with brokers, in order to identify all foreign charters. This would be at additional cost.
	Some information on chartered aircraft has previously been provided in answers to Questions from hon. Members, where such information was available centrally and did not involve disproportionate cost to recover it.

Information Technology

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies including the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel (a) have committed suicide in Iraq or since returning to the UK from Iraq and (b) have been returned to the UK from Iraq early because of mental stress.

Ivor Caplin: During the period 10 January 2003 to 20 December 2003 no member of British service personnel committed suicide in Iraq. Among Service personnel who have since returned to the United Kingdom from Iraq one has died and an open verdict has been recorded by a coroner. In addition six cases have been referred to a coroner for inquest and have not yet been heard.
	As of 30 November 2003, the last date for which these data are currently available, 119 personnel had been medically evacuated from Iraq and received treatment for mental health conditions at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the training received by Trooper Sarah Masters prior to deployment in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Trooper Sarah Masters was fully qualified and trained to meet "Call Out" criteria for mobilisation as a member of the Territorial Army.
	She was mobilised through the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre in early February 2003, before transferring to the Reinforcement Holding Unit, where she completed pre-deployment refresher training on her individual military skills and received the mandatory Theatre specific Pre-Deployment Training package.
	Trooper Masters, and her colleagues from the Royal Yeomanry, then spent a three week period undertaking collective training at Salisbury Plain Training Area and Chelsea Barracks, London, before deploying to Iraq, where they undertook a further 10 days of collective training alongside their Regular colleagues.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq on 24 June 2003; what documents relating to the case have so far been made public; whether he plans to make public the relevant communications log; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 6 November 2003, Official Report, column 770. The SIB investigation is still ongoing and we cannot put a timeframe on how long the investigation might take. Once it has been completed a full report will be given to the families concerned. I will make public as many of its findings as possible, subject to operational and other security constraints. We are providing as much information to the families as we are able, consistent with the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK representatives there are on the Iraq Survey Group; how many there have been in total since the Group was established; what the cost to date has been of UK representation; and what estimate he has made of the total cost of UK participation in the Group.

Geoff Hoon: There are currently 55 United Kingdom representatives on the Iraq Survey Group. There have been a total of 140 UK representatives who have served in the Iraq Survey Group, 94 Service personnel and 46 civilians. The maximum number at any one time was 76 in October 2003.
	The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of Operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation—training exercises for example—are taken into account in arriving at the net figures.
	The net additional costs incurred by UK personnel attached to the Iraq Survey Group cannot be differentiated from the total net additional cost of UK personnel deployed to the Gulf region.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average planned tour of duty is for troops serving in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2003, Official Report, column 755W, to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor).

Iraq

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional nuclear biological and chemical warfare training soldiers received in the immediate build-up to Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: All soldiers deploying on Operation Telic were, and remain, mandated to have completed individual training that prepares them for surviving and lighting in a nuclear, biological or chemical environment. They also received a familiarisation briefing immediately prior to deployment on Collective Protection, which focused on how to operate within such an environment.
	In addition, Unit Commanders attended a Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defence Cadre, focussing on the threat and possible countermeasures, the lessons of which were then cascaded down to their soldiers.
	Building on this foundation of individual training, units reinforced this preparation both before and during deployment.

Iraq

Helen Liddell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an assessment of the co-operation between UK forces in Iraq and the Civil Defence forces.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces are training and mentoring the Iraqi civil defence forces including the Iraq Civil Defence Corps and the Police. To date, in the Multinational Division (South-east) area of responsibility almost all of the ICDC's personnel and approaching half of the police have been trained. In addition 20 Armoured Brigade and the Royal Military Police each have embedded personnel in the respective Iraqi organisations as part of the mentoring process.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 887W, on the Iraq Survey Group, how many personnel were employed in the Iraq Survey Group in June 2003, broken down by (a) nationality and (b) speciality; and what the projected figures are for the end of 2004.

Geoff Hoon: The formation of the Iraq Survey Group was announced on 14 April 2003, and there was a period of transition while elements were being moved into place. We do not hold figures for the transition period that can be broken down by nationality or speciality, but we estimate that there were approximately 450 personnel in the Iraq Survey Group in early June. The United Kingdom contribution would have been Headquarters Staff, interviewers/interpreters and scientific and technical specialists. The current planning assumption is that Iraq Survey Group numbers will remain broadly in line with current numbers for as long as is necessary to complete the Group's task.

Israeli Defence Minister (UK Visit)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has to discuss the supply of military and security equipment between Israel and the UK with the Israeli Defence Minister during his forthcoming visit to the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what issues he plans to discuss with the Israeli Defence Minister during his forthcoming visit to the UK;
	(3)  if he will make a written statement to the House following the forthcoming visit of the Israeli Defence Minister concerning the issues he discussed with him and the outcome of those discussions.

Geoff Hoon: I expect to cover a range of issues of interest with Mr. Mofaz including bilateral relations, Middle East Peace Process and other regional issues of common concern.

Joint Strike Fighter

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many joint strike fighters will be ordered; and what the percentage work share of BAE Systems is.

Adam Ingram: While no final decisions have been taken, our current planning assumption is that we will buy up to 150 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter to meet our Future Joint Combat Aircraft requirements.
	There is no formal workshare arrangement in the Joint Strike Fighter programme. All work being undertaken by United Kingdom companies, including BAE Systems, has been won in open competition.

Offshore Patrol Ships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether there is a need to increase the number of offshore patrol ships.

Adam Ingram: The number of Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels is driven by the operational requirement. As with all aspects of our defence capability they are regularly examined to ensure that they meet the requirement in the most effective way. On current plans the present force level will be maintained.

Private Finance Initiative

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Private Finance Initiative projects let by his Department since 1997; how long each process took; and who the contractors were.

Adam Ingram: The Private Finance Initiative projects that have been let since 1997 are listed as follows. The table indicates the successful consortium/contractor and identifies the length of the process from project initiation to contract award.
	The project initiation date is not known for the RAF Fylingdales Power Station project.
	
		
			 Project Contractor Duration—years 
		
		
			 Hazardous Stores Information System ICL 1.09 
			 Defence Fixed Telecommunications System INCA 15.51 
			 Electronic Messaging Service Bull Information Services 1.25 
			 Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility CAE 2.42 
			 Hawk Synthetic Training Facility Reflectone (UK) Ltd. 1.95 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency EDS 1.76 
			 Joint Services Command and Staff College Laing-Serco 3.92 
			 RAF Family Quarters Lossiemouth Covesea 1.50 
			 Attack Helicopter Training Service Aviation Training International Ltd. 2.33 
			 Family Quarters Yeovilton Western Challenge Housing Association 1.50 
			 RAF Lyneham Sewage Treatment Wessex Water 0.44 
			 Tidworth Water and Sewerage Thames Water plc 2.67 
			 RAF Mail Racal Telecom (now Global Crossing) 1.42 
			 RAF Fylingdales Power Station Turner FM n/k 
			 RAF Cosford/RAF Shawbury Family Quarters Riverside Housing Association 0.71 
			 Fire Fighting Training Units Flagship 3.79 
			 Light Aircraft Flying Training Bombadier Services (UK) Ltd. 1.93 
			 Defence Intelligence Information System ICL 4.58 
			 Tornado GR4 Synthetic Training Service Thomson 1.68 
			 Army Foundation College Defence Services Training Ltd. 2.66 
			 Main Building Refurbishment Amey/Kvaerner 2.57 
			 Tri-service Materials Handling Equipment Barloworld 1.22 
			 Naval Communications Service Alert Communications Ltd. 1.67 
			 E3D Sentry Simulator Quadrant 1.68 
			 Lynx 7/9 Training Simulator Thomson 1.70 
			 Defence Animal Centre Realm 4.22 
			 Central Scotland Family Quarters Mowlem 1.38 
			 Tri-Service White fleet Lex Defence Management (LDM) 2.03 
			 Commercial Satellite Communications Service Nera Satellite Services Ltd. 1.72 
			 Wattisham Service Family Accommodation Roselead 1.31 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency EDS 5.18 
			 ASTUTE Class Training Service FAST Training Services 2.25 
			 DHE IT System Bull Information Services 2.84 
			 Bristol, Bath, Portsmouth SFA TRICOMM 4.42 
			 Heavy Equipment Transporters FASTTRAX 4.83 
			 Marine support to range and aircrew training SMIT International (Scotland) Ltd.) 2.17 
			 Materials Handling Equipment Follow-On Barloworld 1.55 
			 Roll on-Roll off Strategic Sealift AWSR Shipping Ltd. 5.67 
			 Field Electrical Power Supply Vickers Specialist Engines 5.69 
			 MOD-wide Water and Wastewater—Package A Brey Utilities 3.25 
			 Defence Sixth Form College Minerva 1.81 
			 Records Storage and Management ProLogis/TNT 5.25 
			 Skynet 5 Paradigm 5.59 
			 Defence High Frequency Communications Service VT Merlin Communications Ltd. 3.04 
			 Colchester Garrison RMPA 6.08

Private Finance Initiative

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Private Finance Initiative projects that are in the competition stage; and when each competition was opened.

Adam Ingram: The Private Finance Initiative projects that are in the competitive stage and the dates that competition was opened are listed as follows. The Invitation To Negotiate issue date has been used as the date when competition started, as this is the date that competition effectively commenced.
	
		
			 Project Competition start date 
		
		
			 Armoured Vehicle Training Service 28 February 2001 
			 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft 21 December 2000 
			 Northwood HQ PPP Project 18 February 2003 
			 Devonport Support Services 22 June 2001 
			 Portsmouth 2—Housing 29 April 2003 
			 Project ALLENBY/CONNAUGHT 31 July 2002 
			 Royal School of Military Engineers 07 July 2000 
			 MOD-wide Water and Wastewater (Project Aquatrine)—Package C 31 July 2002 
			 MOD-wide Water and Wastewater (Project Aquatrine)—Package B 10 July 2002 
			 C Vehicles 23 March 2001 
			 Tri-service Airfield Support Services 20 September 2001

Recruitment

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) a recruitment freeze is in operation in the Scottish regiments and (b) there was a recruitment freeze in operation in the Scottish regiments in 2003.

Ivor Caplin: The information is as follows:
	(a) No.
	(b) No.

Recruitment

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Scottish army regiments on recruitment.

Ivor Caplin: None.

Reserve Forces

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2004, Official Report, column 505W, on reservists, how many reservists were called out immediately following demobilisation in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Of the 9,550 reservists mobilised in 2003, some 90 were called-out again shortly after being demobilised. To date, none have been in 2004.

Royal College of Defence Medicine

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what accommodation for personnel exists at the Royal College of Defence Medicine; and what plans he has for future accommodation.

Ivor Caplin: Staff and students at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine are mainly housed in leased accommodation. The Ministry of Defence is considering a number of options for the future provision of Service accommodation in the Birmingham area.

Shipbuilding Industry

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the RAND Report on capacity in the UK shipbuilding industry.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has commissioned the RAND organisation to carry out a range of studies of the UK shipbuilding industry, including one examining the capacity, in terms of workforce and facilities, required to deliver the demanding future warship programme. RAND are due to report later this year.

Suez Medal

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medals have been awarded for service in the Suez Canal Zone 1951–54; how many are still to be awarded to (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force personnel; and what the timescale is for completing the presentation of outstanding awards.

Ivor Caplin: By the week ending 6 February 2004 a total of 3,901 Canal Zone clasps, either together with the Naval General Service Medal 1915–62 and General Service Medal 1918–62, as appropriate, or alone where the recipient had already received the medal for other campaign service, had been issued by the Ministry of Defence's four single Service medal offices.
	It is not possible to say how many medals will be awarded for service in the Canal Zone between 1951–54 as it will depend entirely upon the number of valid claims that are received from veterans and their families in the coming months. However, such has been the success of our efforts to advertise the availability of the new clasp that nearly 33,000 applications have now been received.

Suez Medal

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the timetable for the awards to be made to those qualifying for a Suez Medal.

Ivor Caplin: There is no timetable for the award of the medal for service in the Suez Canal Zone.

Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Typhoon aircraft will be ordered by each partner in the second tranche.

Adam Ingram: Under the 4-nation memorandum of understanding, the United Kingdom has undertaken to order 89 Typhoon aircraft in the second Tranche, Germany 68, Italy 46 and Spain 33.

Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of converting Typhoon to operate on the new aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: As I have previously indicated, we have no plans, nor any requirement, for Typhoon to operate from our future aircraft carriers. I do not expect this position to change.

Typhoon

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the second tranche of Typhoon fast jets will be ordered.

Adam Ingram: Work is under way with our partner nations and industry to enable contracts for the second tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to be placed as soon as possible.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) each of the types of weapons of mass destruction that exist in the world and (b) the countries which possess them; and how many weapons are held by each country.

Geoff Hoon: There is no universally accepted definition of the phrase "weapons of mass destruction", but it is generally held to refer to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
	Under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, China and Russia are recognised as nuclear weapon states, as defined in Article 9(3) of the Treaty. Additionally, India and Pakistan have tested nuclear devices. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review 1998, the UK has fewer than 200 operationally available nuclear warheads. None of the other states have publicly confirmed the size of their nuclear weapon stockpiles.
	There are five States Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) (US, Russia, India, Albania and one other State Party) that have declared possession of chemical weapons. They are currently in the process of destroying them in accordance with their obligations under the Convention. The amount of chemical weapons originally declared is 69,869 metric tonnes, of which 27,773 metric tonnes is from the US, 40,000 metric tonnes from Russia, and 2,096 metric tonnes from the other states parties.
	We welcome Libya's recent announcement that it is renouncing its WMD programmes. It has acceded to the CWC and the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention. It has announced its intention to sign an Additional Protocol with the IAEA and has undertaken to act in accordance with its provisions pending ratification.
	We do not yet have a complete picture of Iraq's WMD programme related activities. The Iraq Survey Group's work is by no means completed. It remains our best means of discovering the truth about Iraq's WMD programmes. We have long had concerns about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of WMD, especially their capability to produce and develop nuclear weapons. We are actively supporting the major diplomatic effort to try and resolve international concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. The UK remains concerned by the scope and scale of Iran's nuclear programme, and the state of its technical knowledge, which could assist in the production of both chemical and biological weapons. We are also aware of persistent reports that Syria is pursuing programmes to develop WMD and the means for their delivery.
	We continue to encourage Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, as a non-nuclear weapons state.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Area Partnerships

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2004, Official Report, columns 401–02W, on Area Partnerships, how much each of the 88 local authorities has been allocated.

Yvette Cooper: The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) allocations for each local authority for the period 2001 to 2006 are tabled as follows.
	
		£ million
		
			 Local authority NRF allocation 2001–02 NRF allocation 2002–03 NRF allocation 2003–04 Main NRF allocation 2004–05 Residual NRF allocation 2004–05 Total NRF allocation (main plus residual) 2004–05 
		
		
			 Allerdale 0.427747 0.641621 0.855494 0.855494 — 0.855494 
			 Ashfield 0.481805 0.722708 0.963610 0.963610 — 0.963610 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0.816364 1.224546 1.632728 1.632728 — 1.632728 
			 Barnsley 2.722069 4.083104 5.444138 5.444138 — 5.444138 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 0.919191 1.378787 1.838382 1.838382 — 1.838382 
			 Birmingham 11.021744 16.532616 22.043488 22.043488 — 22.043488 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2.167412 3.251118 4.334824 4.334824 — 4.334824 
			 Blackpool 1.503944 2.255916 3.007888 3.007888 — 3.007888 
			 Bolsover 0.734416 1:101624 1.468832 1,468832 0.417624 1.886456 
			 Bolton 2.712853 4.069280 5.425706 5.425706 — 5.425706 
			 Bradford 4.905949 7.358924 9.811898 9.811898 — 9.811898 
			 Brent 1.139562 1 .709343 2.279124 2.279124 — 2.279124 
			 Brighton and Hove 0.684438 1.026657 1.368876 1.368876 — 1.368876 
			 Bristol 1:782633 2.673950 3,565266 3.565266 1.013689 4.578955 
			 Burnley 0.636635 0.954953 1.273270 1.273270 — 1.273270 
			 Camden 2.109335 3.164003 4.218670 4:218670 1.199468 5.418138 
			 Coventry 2.644775 3.967163 5.289550 5.289550 — 5.289550 
			 Croydon 0.290624 0.435936 0.581248 0.581248 — 0.581248 
			 Derby 1.625234 2.437851 3.250468 3.250468 — 3.250468 
			 Derwentside 0.741155 1,111733 1.482310 1.482310 0.421456 1.903766 
			 Doncaster 4.394925 6.592388 8.789850 8.789850 — 8.789850 
			 Dudley 0.760282 1.140423 1.520564 1.520564 — 1.520564 
			 Ealing 0.458538 0.687807 0.917076 0.917076 — 0.917076 
			 Easington 2.216635 3,324953 4.433270 4.433270 1.260484 5.693754 
			 Enfield 0.929797 1 .394696 1.859594 1.859594 — 1.859594 
			 Gateshead 2.321426 3.482139 4.642852 4.642852 — 4.642852 
			 Great Yarmouth 0.993615 1.490423 1.987230 1.987230 — 1.987230 
			 Greenwich 1.940726 2.911089 3.881452 3.881452 1.103589 4.985041 
			 Hackney 5.882703 8.824055 11.765406 11.765406 3.345184 15.110590 
			 Halton 1.964205 2.946308 3.928410 3.928410 1.116940 5.045350 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.516645 0.774968 1.033290 1.033290 — 1.033290 
			 Haringey 2.667407 4.001111 5.334814 5.334814 1.516814 6.851628 
			 Hartlepool 1.568759 2.353139 3.137518 3.137518 0.892071 4.029589 
			 Hastings 0.687580 1.031370 1.375160 1.375160 — 1.375160 
			 Hyndburn 0.646818 0.970227 1.293636 1.293636 — 1.293636 
			 Islington 3.135010 4.702515 6.270020 6.270020 1.782715 8.052735 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.540335 0.810503 1.080670 1.080670 — 1.080670 
			 Kerrier 0.805244 1.207866 1.610488 1.610488 — 1.610488 
			 Kingston upon Hull 3.753636 5.630454 7.507272 7.507272 2.134495 9.641767 
			 Kirklees 1.496028 2.244042 2.992056 2.992056 — 2.992056 
			 Knowsley 3.695469 5.543204 7.390938 7,390938 2,101419 9.492357 
			 Lambeth 1.210843 1.816265 2.421686 2.421686 0.688542 3.110228 
			 Leeds 4.197791 6.296687 8.395582 8.395582 — 8.395582 
			 Leicester 4.188485 6.282728 8.376970 8.376970 — 8.376970 
			 Lewisham 1.226253 1.839380 2.452506 2.452506 — 2.452506 
			 Lincoln 0.200000 0.300000 0.400000 0.400000 — 0.400000 
			 Liverpool 10.066353 15.099530 20.132706 20.132706 5.724205 25.856911 
			 Luton 0.754933 1.132400 1.509866 1.509866 — 1.509866 
			 Manchester 10.297541 15.446312 20.595082 20,595082 5.855669 26.450751 
			 Mansfield 1.149321 1 .723982 2.298642 2.298642 — 2.298642 
			 Middlesbrough 2.624651 3.936977 5.249302 5:249302 1.492501 6.741803 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3.421525 5.132288 6.843050 6.843050 — 6.843050 
			 Newham 6.665980 9.998970 13.331960 13.331960 3.790592 17.122552 
			 North Tyneside 1.536790 2.305185 3.073580 3.073580 — 3.073580 
			 Nottingham 4.622940 6.934410 9.245880 9.245880 2.628822 11.874702 
			 Oldham 2.336988 3.505482 4.673976 4.673976 — 4.673976 
			 Pendle 0.980471 1.470707 1.960942 1.960942 — 1.960942 
			 Penwith 0.414573 0.621860 0.829146 0.829146 — 0.829146 
			 Plymouth 1.057070 1.585605 2.114140 2.114140 — 2.114140 
			 Portsmouth 0.478330 0.717495 0.956660 0.956660 — 0.956660 
			 Preston 1.260217 1.890326 2.520434 2.520434 — 2.520434 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1.736069 2.604104 3.472138 3.472138 — 3.472138 
			 Rochdale 2.438999 3.658499 4.877998 4.877998 — 4.877998 
			 Rotherham 1.834303 2.751455 3.668606 3.668606 — 3.668606 
			 Salford 2.720407 4.080611 5.440814 5.440814 1.546952 6.987766 
			 Sandwell 4.025284 6.037926 8.050568 8.050568 2.288967 10.339535 
			 Sedgefield 0.569463 0.854195 1.138926 1.138926 — 1.138926 
			 Sefton 2.815650 4.223475 5.631300 5.631300 — 5.631300 
			 Sheffield 4.790431 7.185647 9.580862 9.580862 — 9.580862 
			 South Tyneside 2.691097 4.036646 5.382194 5.382194 1.530285 6.912479 
			 Southampton 0.430890 0.646335 0.861780 0.861780 — 0.861780 
			 Southward 3.956179 5.934269 7.912358 7.912358 2.249671 10.162029 
			 St. Helens 1.936557 2.904836 3.873114 3.873114 — 3.873114 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1.926102 2.889153 3.852204 3.852204 — 3.852204 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 2.016872 3.025308 4.033744 4.033744 — 4.033744 
			 Sunderland 3.581885 5.372828 7.163770 7.163770 — 7.163770 
			 Tameside 0.670115 1.005173 1.340230 1.340230 — 1.340230 
			 Tower Hamlets 5.311820 7.967730 10.623640 10.623640 3.020552 13.644192 
			 Wakefield 2.219657 3.329486 4.439314 4.439314 — 4.439314 
			 Walsall 3.560975 5.341463 7.121950 7.121950 — 7.121950 
			 Waltham Forest 1.276745 1.915118 2.553490 2.553490 — 2.553490 
			 Wandsworth 0.200000 0.300000 0.400000 0.400000 — 0.400000 
			 Wansbeck 0.689665 1.034498 1,379330 1,379330 0.392176 1.771506 
			 Wear Valley 0.853107 1.279661 1.706214 1,706214 0.485117 2.191331 
			 Westminster 0.748648 1.122972 1.497296 1.497296 — 1.497296 
			 Wigan 1.362621 2.043932 2.725242 2.725242 — 2.725242 
			 Wirral 2.537596 3.806394 5.075192 5.075192 — 5.075192 
			 Wolverhampton 2.964135 4.446203 5.928270 5.928270 — 5.928270 
			 Total 200.000000 300.000000 400.000000 400.000000 50.000000 450.000000 
		
	
	
		£ million
		
			 Local authority Main NRF allocation 2005–06 Residual NRF allocation 2005–06 Total NRF allocation (main plus residual) 2005–06 Total main NRF allocation 2001–06 Total residual NRF allocation 2004–05 plus 2005–06 Total NRF allocation 2001–06 
		
		
			 Allerdale 0.855494 — 0.855494 3.635850 — 3.635850 
			 Ashfield 0.963610 — 0.963610 4.095343 — 4.095343 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1.632728 — 1.632728 6.939094 — 6.939094 
			 Barnsley 5.444138 — 5.444138 23.137587 — 23.137587 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 1.838382 — 1.838382 7.813124 — 7.813124 
			 Birmingham 22.043488 — 22.043488 93.684824 — 93.684824 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4.334824 — 4.334824 18.423002 — 18.423002 
			 Blackpool 3.007888 — 3.007888 12.783524 — 12.783524 
			 Bolsover 1.468832 1.044060 2.512892 6.242536 1.461684 7.704220 
			 Bolton 5.425706 — 5.425706 23.059251 — 23.059251 
			 Bradford 9.811898 — 9.811898 41.700567 — 41.700567 
			 Brent 2.279124 — 2.279124 9.686277 — 9.686277 
			 Brighton and Hove 1.368876 — 1.368876 5.817723 — 5.817723 
			 Bristol 3.565266 2.534224 6.099490 15.152381 3.547913 18.700294 
			 Burnley 1.273270 — 1.273270 5.411398 — 5.411398 
			 Camden 4.218670 2.998670 7.217340 17.929348 4.198138 22.127486 
			 Coventry 5.289550 — 5.289550 22.480588 — 22.480588 
			 Croydon 0.581248 — 0.581248 2.470304 — 2.470304 
			 Derby 3.250468 — 3.250468 13.814489 — 13.814489 
			 Derwentside 1,482310 1.053639 2.535949 6.299818 1.475095 7.774913 
			 Doncaster 8.789850 — 8.789850 37.356863 — 37.356863 
			 Dudley 1.520564 — 1.520564 6.462397 — 6.462397 
			 Ealing 0.917076 — 0.917076 3.897573 — 3.897573 
			 Easington 4.433270 3.151209 7.584479 18.841398 4.411693 23.253091 
			 Enfield 1.859594 — 1.859594 7.903275 — 7.903275 
			 Gateshead 4.642852 — 4.642852 19.732121 — 19.732121 
			 Great Yarmouth 1.987230 — 1.987230 8.445728 — 8.445728 
			 Greenwich 3.881452 2.758972 6.640424 16.496171 3.862561 20.358732 
			 Hackney 11.765406 8.362959 20.128365 50.002976 11.708143 61.711119 
			 Halton 3.928410 2.792350 6.720760 16.695743 3.909290 20.605033 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1.033290 — 1.033290 4.391483 — 4.391483 
			 Haringey 5.334814 3.792035 9.126849 22.672960 5.308849 27.981809 
			 Hartlepool 3.137518 2.230177 5.367695 13.334452 3.122248 16.456700 
			 Hastings 1.375160 — 1.375160 5.844430 — 5.844430 
			 Hyndburn 1.293636 — 1.293636 5.497953 — 5.497953 
			 Islington 6.270020 4.456788 10.726808 26.647585 6.239503 32.887088 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1.080670 — 1.080670 4.592848 — 4.592848 
			 Kerrier 1.610488 — 1.610488 6.844574 — 6.844574 
			 Kingston upon Hull 7.507272 5.336238 12.843510 31.905906 7.470733 39.376639 
			 Kirklees 2.992056 — 2.992056 12.716238 — 12.716238 
			 Knowsley 7.390938 5.253547 12.644485 31.411487 7.354966 38.766453 
			 Lambeth 2.421686 1.721356 4.143042 10.292166 2.409898 12.702064 
			 Leeds 8.395582 — 8.395582 35.681224 — 35.681224 
			 Leicester 8.376970 — 8.376970 35.602123 — 35.602123 
			 Lewisham 2.452506 — 2.452506 10.423151 — 10.423151 
			 Lincoln 0.400000 — 0.400000 1.700000 — 1.700000 
			 Liverpool 20.132706 14.310513 34.443219 85.564001 20.034718 105.598719 
			 Luton 1.509866 — 1.509866 6.416931 — 6.416931 
			 Manchester 20.595082 14.639173 35.234255 87.529099 20.494842 108.023941 
			 Mansfield 2.298642 — 2.298642 9.769229 — 9.769229 
			 Middlesbrough 5.249302 3.731252 8.980554 22.309534 5.223753 27.533287 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 6.843050 — 6.843050 29.082963 — 29.082963 
			 Newham 13.331960 9.476480 22.808440 56.660830 13.267072 69.927902 
			 North Tyneside 3.073580 — 3.073580 13.062715 — 13.062715 
			 Nottingham 9.245880 6.572056 15.817936 39.294990 9.200878 48.495868 
			 Oldham 4.673976 — 4.673976 19.864398 — 19.864398 
			 Pendle 1.960942 — 1.960942 8.334004 — 8.334004 
			 Penwith 0.829146 — 0.829146 3.523871 — 3.523871 
			 Plymouth 2.114140 — 2.114140 8.985095 — 8.985095 
			 Portsmouth 0.956660 — 0.956660 4.065805 — 4.065805 
			 Preston 2.520434 — 2.520434 10.711845 — 10.711845 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3.472138 — 3.472138 14.756587 — 14.756587 
			 Rochdale 4.877998 — 4.877998 20.731492 — 20.731492 
			 Rotherham 3.668606 — 3.668606 15.591576 — 15.591576 
			 Salford 5.440814 3.867381 9.308195 23.123460 5.414333 28.537793 
			 Sandwell 8.050568 5.722418 13.772986 34.214914 8.011385 42.226299 
			 Sedgefield 1.138926 — 1.138926 4.840436 — 4.840436 
			 Sefton 5.631300 — 5.631300 23.933025 — 23.933025 
			 Sheffield 9.580862 — 9.580862 40.718664 — 40.718664 
			 South Tyneside 5.382194 3.825713 9.207907 22.874325 5.355998 28.230323 
			 Southampton 0.861780 — 0.861780 3.662565 — 3.662565 
			 Southward 7.912358 5.624176 13.536534 33.627522 7.873847 41.501369 
			 St. Helens 3.873114 — 3.873114 16.460735 — 16.460735 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 3.852204 — 3.852204 16.371867 — 16.371867 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 4.033744 — 4.033744 17.143412 — 17.143412 
			 Sunderland 7.163770 — 7.163770 30.446023 — 30.446023 
			 Tameside 1.340230 — 1.340230 5.695978 — 5.695978 
			 Tower Hamlets 10.623640 7.551380 18.175020 45.150470 10.571932 55.722402 
			 Wakefield 4.439314 — 4.439314 18.867085 — 18.867085 
			 Walsall 7.121950 — 7.121950 30.268288 — 30.268288 
			 Waltham Forest 2.553490 — 2.553490 10.852333 — 10.852333 
			 Wandsworth 0.400000 — 0.400000 1.700000 — 1.700000 
			 Wansbeck 1.379330 0.980441 2.359771 5.862153 1.372617 7.234770 
			 Wear Valley 1.706214 1.212793 2.919007 7.251410 1.697910 8.949320 
			 Westminster 1.497296 — 1.497296 6.363508 — 6.363508 
			 Wigan 2.725242 — 2.725242 11.582279 — 11.582279 
			 Wirral 5.075192 — 5.075192 21.569566 — 21.569566 
			 Wolverhampton 5.928270 — 5.928270 25.195148 — 25.195148 
			 Total 400.000000 125.000000 525.000000 1700.000000 175.000000 1875.000000 
		
	
	Note:
	26 local authorities receiving NRF residual allocations.

Council Tax

Stephen Byers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the range of values would be for each council tax band at today's prices.

Nick Raynsford: Using the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's quarterly index of house price movements, the average increase in prices in England from the second quarter (April–June) of 1991—approximately when the original council tax valuations were based—to the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2003 was 139 per cent.
	If the current English council tax bands were uprated by this amount (and rounding to the nearest £5,000), the bands would be as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Band A Up to 95,000 
			 Band B 95,000 to 125,000 
			 Band C 125,000 to 165,000 
			 Band D 165,000 to 210,000 
			 Band E 210,000 to 285,000 
			 Band F 285,000 to 385,000 
			 Band G 385,000 to 765,000 
			 Band H Over 765,000 
		
	
	This index is based only on sales of property and may not fully reflect changes in the value of social housing.

Elderly People (Safety)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action the Government has taken to promote safety at home for elderly people.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department continues to make available a range of safety material targeted at elderly people, and to work with partner organisations.

High-rise Housing

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) central and (b) local government regulations and policy governs whether families should be housed (i) in high-rise housing accommodation and (ii) on floors higher than the second floor of an apartment block.

Keith Hill: The allocation legislation requires that housing authorities ensure that reasonable preference for an allocation of accommodation is given to certain categories of persons. These include people living in insanitary, overcrowded and unsatisfactory housing conditions. The Office of the Deputy Prime minister has issued statutory guidance that provides housing authorities with examples of indicators which might be taken into account in determining whether people are living in unsatisfactory housing conditions. These include children in flats or maisonettes above the ground floor. There is nothing to prevent housing authorities devising their own local indicators in addition, or in place of this.

Housing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many councils have been required to release reserve sites for housing development as a consequence of failing to meet house building targets.

Keith Hill: None.

Housing Stock Transfer

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 748, how many of the 790,000 council homes have been transferred to arm's length management organisations; and what proportion of the extra £8 billion private investment to which he referred has been attracted to ALMOs.

Keith Hill: The figures quoted relate to transfer of homes to registered social landlords under the large scale voluntary transfer option, rather than homes managed by arm's length management organisations (ALMOs). ALMOs currently in the programme cover just under 500,000 dwellings and have been allocated nearly £900 million of public funding to bring homes up to the Decent Homes standard.

Local Authority Employees

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the proportion of local authority employees to adult population was in each (a) unitary authority, (b) metropolitan authority and (c) shire county on the latest date for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on full-time and part-time employee jobs in English local authorities is held by the Employers Organisation and data on the population in each English authority are available from the 2001 census. Using these data the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has calculated the proportion of local authority employees to total population in the categories of local authority requested. A table showing these data is available in the Library of the House. It should be noted that the population figures refer to the total population of each authority rather than just the adult population.

Pathfinder Projects

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the housing renewal pathfinder project areas he has visited in the last 12 months.

Keith Hill: The Deputy Prime Minister has visited six of the nine housing renewal pathfinder project areas in the last 12 months.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the proposed powers of regional assemblies;
	(2)  if he will list the responsibilities which he plans should not be devolved to regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 347W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's relations with the military regime in Burma.

Bill Rammell: We have full diplomatic relations with Burma and continue to press the military regime to enter into a substantive and meaningful dialogue with all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma leading to national reconciliation, democratisation and full respect for human rights. We have repeatedly called on the regime to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, to release all political prisoners, and to re-open NLD offices in Burma.

Burma

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department is making in tackling the human rights situation in Burma (a) bilaterally and (b) in the UN.

Bill Rammell: We continue to raise our concerns on human rights in Burma bilaterally and through the UN at every opportunity. We co-sponsored the UN General Assembly Human Rights Resolution on Burma last December and will play an active role in the forthcoming UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. We strongly support the efforts of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Sergio Pinheiro. The EU has repeatedly condemned Burma's lack of progress on forced labour, most recently at the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) meeting in Geneva on 20 November 2003.We fully support the work of the ILO and have called upon the Burmese authorities to end permanently the use of forced labour.

China

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights record of China since the killings in Tiananmen Square in 1989, with particular reference to (a) the treatment of cyber-dissidents, (b) the treatment of Uighur separatists, (c) the use of torture and the death penalty and (d) respect for political and religious freedom in Tibet.

Bill Rammell: We monitor the human rights situation in China closely and raise our concerns both at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue and at ministerial level meetings. Most recently I raised human rights issues with Vice Minister Zhang Yesui of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 December 2003.
	The last round of our biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing on 10 to 11 November 2003. We raised our concerns about a wide range of issues, including:
	freedom of expression; and asked for further information and clemency for five internet activists;
	the situation in Xinjiang where the UK delegation visited and discussed human rights with Xinjiang officials. A list of Uighur cases of concern was handed over;
	the use of forced confessions; the application of the death penalty and lack of statistics on its application. We fund several projects in these sensitive areas; and
	the situation in Tibet and encouraged China to continue its contact with representations of the Dalai Lama.

China

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to oppose the lifting of the European Union arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The European Council on 12 December 2003 invited the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to re-examine the EU Arms Embargo on China. The GAERC met on 26 January 2004 and decided to remit the issue to the relevant working groups for detailed examination. The issue will revert to a future GAERC.
	We welcome the review and are currently considering the UK's position. In the meantime, we will continue fully to implement the Arms Embargo.

Comoros Islands

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Comoros Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: I have no present plans to visit the Comoros Islands.

EU Advertising (Slovakia)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advertising the Government paid for on Slovak television concerning enlargement.

Denis MacShane: None.

EU Presidency (UK)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparatory unit has been established for the next UK Presidency of the EU; and what venues have been booked for British Presidency meetings.

Denis MacShane: A small team is being set up within the European Union Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Other Government Departments are establishing their own Presidency units. The Cabinet Office European Secretariat will play an overall policy co-ordinating role.
	During our Presidency we will hold two European Councils in Brussels. Other formal Ministerial Councils and meetings of officials will take place in Brussels and Luxembourg.
	Some informal ministerial meetings will take place in the UK during the UK Presidency. Planning for these and other official level events is at an early stage, and neither dates nor venues have yet been finalised.

Government Payments

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 844W, if he will list payments made by the United Kingdom Government to the Governments of (a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kazakhstan, (d) Kyrgyzstan, (e) Pakistan, (f) Georgia and (g) Azerbaijan since 1999–2000, broken down by purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) only holds information about payments made to the Governments mentioned through FCO accounts.
	The following sums have been paid to the High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in London in respect of refunds of VAT paid on items purchased for official use:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 26 October 1999 Computing equipment 214.82 
			 30 November 1999 Furniture 8,483.71 
			 22 March 2001 Electrical/wiring materials 1,810.36 
			 22 March 2001 Electrical/wiring materials 1,957.41 
			 19 June 2001 Electrical/wiring materials 708.77 
			 25 November 2003 Building materials 50,027.77 
			 22 January 2004 Building materials 115,105.00 
		
	
	Refunds of VAT on purchases of British manufactured goods (over £50) are made to Commonwealth missions, the Embassy of Ireland and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The concession dates back to the 1940s, at that time applying to Purchase Tax. It continued after the introduction of VAT in 1973 on the grounds of preserving customary practice.
	The FCO has not made any payments to the other Governments listed during this period.
	Payments will have been made at UK posts overseas to the Governments of these countries. However, this information is not held centrally, and can be obtained from posts only at disproportionate cost.
	This answer covers only expenditure incurred by the FCO and not by HMG as a whole.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Iraqi women who will be elected to the first Iraqi Parliament.

Bill Rammell: We cannot estimate the number of women to be elected to the Transitional National Assembly. This is a matter for the Iraqi people to decide. The Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) is overseeing the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) to be completed by the end of February 2004. We are encouraging the IGC to promote in the TAL the fair representation of women in the Transitional National Assembly.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in custody in Iraq have proven links to al-Qaeda, broken down by nationality; and how many of these are believed to have entered Iraq since 20 March 2003.

Denis MacShane: Detainees in Iraq who may have links to al-Qaeda are being investigated by the Coalition Provisional Authority. It is the practice of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Iraq

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the UN and (b) the United States on (i) the future structure of the Iraqi Administration and (ii) self-determination for each of the main ethnic groups.

Bill Rammell: We have regular discussions with the UN and the US about all aspects of Iraq's future. The structure of Iraq's Administration will be a matter for the Iraqi people to determine, with the assistance of the UN and the Coalition Provisional Authority, as laid down in Security Council Resolutions 1483 and 1511. We strongly support the territorial integrity of Iraq and the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future, as reaffirmed in those resolutions.

IT Contracts

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list information technology contracts in his Department with a value of above £20 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 February 2003, Official Report, column 588W. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Telecommunications Network (FTN) has now been successfully rolled out to 192 posts. Beyond the contracts for FTN and "Prism", the only ICT project which has cost the FCO collectively in excess of £20 million in the last ten years has been our global IT infrastructure, Firecrest. The Firecrest project was led by our principal internal service provider, FCO Services, and was completed in October 2003. The internal costs of the project are considerably greater than original 1997 estimates, reflecting the FCO's decision to expand Firecrest from a limited deployment to some 71 posts into a single, global IT platform for over 200 posts. The replanned project stages were completed on time and budgets were subject to proper internal approvals.
	Technical issues have delayed the implementation of the Prism programme (providing financial and human resources systems) by some months. Final preparations are now under way to introduce elements of the programme in the coming weeks, with the full package being introduced at the start of the next financial year.
	All systems have required some adaptation and thorough testing before being released, so no significant de-bugging has been required once the systems have been rolled out.

Kalahari Bushmen

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Botswana regarding the forced resettlement of the Kalahari Bushmen.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the Government of Botswana on the relocation of the Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
	I raised the subject of the Basarwa with President Mogae at CHOGM in December 2003. The British High Commission in Gaborone also discuss the issue regularly in their contacts with the Government of Botswana.

Tristan da Cunha

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much financial support has been given to (a) St. Helena, (b) Tristan da Cunha and (c) the Ascension Islands in each of the last five years.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply. 
	DFID bilateral disbursements for St. Helena in the Financial years 1998–99 to 2002–03 were as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1998–99 8,805 
			 1999–2000 9,363 
			 2000–01 10,116 
			 2001–02 10,106 
			 2002–03 9,555 
		
	
	These figures include some modest support for Tristan da Cunha, totalling less than £200,000 annually. We do not provide any direct bilateral assistance to Ascension Island.
	St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension Island also receive some assistance from the FCO Good Governance Fund and Economic Diversification Programme. Those figures for the same period are as follows:
	
		
			  St. Helena Ascension Island Tristan da Cunha  
		
		
			 1998–99 163,274 — — 
			 1999–2000 231,040 64,410 33,563 
			 2000–01 212,002 126,859 — 
			 2001–02 321,359 288,445 9,504 
			 2002–03 436,428 15,000 187,932 
		
	
	Since 1995, St. Helena has also been allocated a total of 14.35 million euros from European Union funds.

Overseas Students

Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas students applied for visas to study in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of those were renewals.

Chris Mullin: During the financial year 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, the latest year for which statistics are available, 181,905 student applications were received at our diplomatic posts worldwide. Figures are not collated on the number of student visa applications submitted overseas by applicants who had previously obtained student visas.

Nicholas Baker

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken since 5 November 2003 to secure the release of Mr. Nicholas Baker from prison in Japan; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Mr. Baker's lawyer made an application to lodge an appeal on his behalf on 20 January. The appeal will be heard by the Japanese court on 23 March. We continue to monitor the case and to offer Mr. Baker and his family consular assistance.

TRANSPORT

Pensioner Travel Concessions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will fund off-peak travel for all pensioners in England.

Tony McNulty: The Government provides funding for off peak concessionary travel for all pensioners (women over 60, men over 65) through the annual grant settlement to local authorities. This funding also includes concessions for off-peak travel for men aged 60–64 and for disabled people. Local authorities must provide at least half fare concessions on local bus services with no charge for the pass and are free to offer alternative and more generous schemes. Local authorities in England spent around £500 million on concessionary travel in 2002–03. This figure takes account of the extra £54 million we provided to local authorities in 2001–02 to cover the costs of implementing the statutory half fare minimum requirement. We provided a further £50 million in 2003–04 to cover the additional cost of extending concessionary travel to men aged 60–64.
	From 1 May 2003, half-fares have been made available on many scheduled long-distance coach services for people aged 60 years and over and for disabled people. We are providing an extra £10 million per year to operators to fund the scheme.

Speed Cameras

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the new guidelines relating to the erection of speed cameras will cover existing cameras as well as new cameras.

David Jamieson: The safety camera programme board produces a "Handbook of rules and guidelines for the operation of the national road safety camera programme for England and Wales" covering the assessment of proposed sites and the regular review of existing sites, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The handbook is kept under review.

Speed Cameras

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras were in place on (a) 1 January and (b) 1 January in each of the previous eight years in each of the local authorities in greater London.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 January 2004
	We do not hold information centrally for camera operations other than those operated within the Safety Camera Partnerships. London established such a partnership in July 2002. From information provided by the partnership, the number of approved fixed speed camera locations established in each local authority area since then is as shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Fixed speed cameras ingreater London 2002 2003 additional locations 2004 proposed additional locations 
		
		
			 City — — — 
			 Westminster — — 2 
			 Camden — — 2 
			 Islington — 4 2 
			 Hackney — 1 2 
			 Tower Hamlets — 15 2 
			 Greenwich — — 2 
			 Lewisham — 2 2 
			 Southwark 2 — 2 
			 Lambeth — 4 2 
			 Wandsworth — — 2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham — — 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea — — — 
			 Waltham Forest 4 1 2  
			 Redbridge 1 — 2 
			 Havering — — 2 
			 Barking — 1 2 
			 Newham — — 2 
			 Bexley — — 2 
			 Bromley — — 2 
			 Croydon — — 2 
			 Sutton — — 2 
			 Merton — — 2 
			 Kingston 2 — 2 
			 Richmond 1 1 2  
			 Hounslow — 2 2 
			 Hillingdon — — 2 
			 Ealing — 3 2 
			 Brent — 1 2 
			 Harrow 1 — 2 
			 Barnet — — — 
			 Haringey — — 2 
			 Enfield 3 1 2 
			 Total 14 36 60 
		
	
	In addition to these fixed site camera sites there are currently two approved mobile camera locations.

Speed Cameras

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 27 January, Official Report, columns 243–4W, on speed cameras, how much was raised in fines by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003, broken down by (i) court proceedings and (ii) fixed penalties.

David Jamieson: holding answer 3 February 2004
	The information on 2002 court proceedings and fixed penalties for motoring offences will be available from the Home Office in the Spring of 2004 with 2003 data becoming available late 2004.

Speed Cameras

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Written Answers of 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 826W, on speed cameras, what the reason is for the difference of £520,357 between the two amounts of money in the answers; and if he will make a statement as to what the £520,357 has been used for.

David Jamieson: Written Question 151354 concerned the amount of fixed penalty fine receipts from Safety Camera offences in Essex in 2001–02 (£3,524,120). Written Question 151355 concerned the amount disbursed to the Essex Speed Camera Partnership for the operation of the safety cameras (£3,003,763). The other portion of the fine receipts (£520,357) accrued to the Consolidated Fund.

Banned Airlines

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 26 January, Official Report, column 33W, on banned airlines, what restrictions have been placed on which aircraft operating in (a) Swiss, (b) Belgian and (c) Dutch airspace; why the restrictions have been imposed; and which airlines operate these aircraft.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 January to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Official Report, column 546W, which explains why we are unable to provide information about restrictions imposed by other states.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. The department has no record of any staff being subject to any of the actions listed since that date.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Tony McNulty: I refer my hon. Friend to the pursuant answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1084–86WJ.

Collapsible Plates

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers there are to permit the installation of collapsible plates to enforce one-way traffic on public highways.

David Jamieson: Where the passage, or the passage in any direction, of vehicles is restricted by a traffic regulation order Sections 92 (outside London) and 94(2) (London) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 permit the placing of such bollards or other obstructions, at the point of restriction, as a traffic authority consider appropriate for preventing their passage. Collapsible plates are normally used to protect entrances to facilities off the public highway such as car parks. Whether their use on a public highway to control the direction of traffic flow is practicable and safe would need very careful consideration.

Consultancy Fees

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on consultancy fees by (a) his Department and its predecessors, (b) Network Rail and (c) London Underground in the last three years.

Kim Howells: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Orders for consultancy to the value of £123.6 million were raised in 2002–03 and £42.1 million in the first nine months of 2003–04.
	Network Rail is in the private sector and the Department does not hold details of their spend on consultancy.
	London Underground has provided the following information for the last three financial years on consultancy costs: 2000–01 £44.3 million; 2001–02 £42.6 million; 2002–03 £52.O million. These figures do not include spending on external consultancy by the infrastructure companies, as this information is not held by London Underground. However, they do include the consultancy costs arising from work on the PPP, which totals £103.5 million since March 1998, as explained in the written statement made by my hon. Friend, the parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. McNulty) on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 121WS. Responsibility for London Underground transferred from central Government to Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Authority in July 2003. Expenditure by London Underground is now a matter for TfL and the Mayor.

Consultations

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those individuals and organisations to whom (a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultations (i) The future development of air transport in the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland: a national consultation, (ii) Abandoned cars: a consultation document, (iii) Draft directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority: consultation paper and (iv) The future of aviation: the Government's consultation document on air transport policy: a report on the response to the public consultation; and from whom each received a response in each case.

Tony McNulty: Government are committed to ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are identified and involved in consultation exercises. All the consultations referred to were undertaken by the Department; executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies were not involved.
	The consultation documents were issued to interested parties and made available on the department's web-site. As the volume of information requested is considerable, a summary of the information requested is provided below. Details of organisations and individuals who were issued with copies of the consultation documents and those that replied will be placed in the House Library. (i) The future development of air transport in the United Kingdom: Northern Ireland: a national consultation
	This consultation started in August 2002 and ended on 30 June 2003, 16000 copies of the consultation documents were issued to over 1100 organisations or individuals. There were 257 replies of which 19 requested privacy and 15 were anonymous.
	(ii) Abandoned cars: a consultation document
	This consultation started on 31 October 2001 and ended on 31 January 2002. Over 650 copies of the consultation documents were issued, there were 341 replies.
	(iii) Draft directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority: consultation paper
	This consultation started on 29 June 2001 and ended on 21 September 2001. The consultation documents were formally issued to 32 specialist organisations. There were 84 replies, of which one requested privacy.
	(iv) The future of aviation: the Government's consultation document on air transport policy: a report on the response to the public consultation.
	This document is in fact a report which summarises the responses to the public consultation document "The Future of Aviation".
	It was not itself subject to consultation and was published only on the then DTLR web-site.
	"The Future of Aviation" consultation itself started in December 2000 and ended on 12 April 2001. The consultation documents were issued to 1000 organisations, there were 561 replies.

Department Branding

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department and its predecessors spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by (a) counsultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos.

Tony McNulty: The Department spent less than £25,000, from within existing budgets, to make the required changes to the departmental logo, stationery, signage and web site design in 2002–03. The work was carried out by contractors under our normal framework agreements for design and print of paper and electronic publications.
	No costs have been incurred in 2003–04. Costs for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Minutes

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be made.

Tony McNulty: The Department follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Departmental Staff

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.

Tony McNulty: I refer my hon. Friend to the pursuant answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1084–86W.

Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many information technology projects within the Driver, Vehicle and Operator group are (a) under way and (b) planned; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost and (ii) timescale of each project; which of the projects underway will be completed within its original budget and timescale; and what assessment he has made of the benefits to be delivered when each project is completed.

David Jamieson: There are 37 IT projects under way in Agencies within the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group, at a total Departmental investment cost of some £173m. These are to be delivered over the next 2–3 years and will bring a range of benefits including operating efficiency, better customer service and improved enforcement.
	There are further 22 IT projects being planned at present.
	I have placed details of these projects in the Libraries of the House.

Exhaust Emissions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the comparative motor vehicle exhaust emission statistics are for (a) liquefied petroleum gas, (b) compressed natural gas, (c) petrol and (d) diesel.

David Jamieson: The comparative statistics in the tables are taken from the joint DfT/HMT consultation 'Road fuel gases and their contribution to clean low-carbon transport' released in June 2003.
	The figures allow a comparison of the mandatory European emission standards for new petrol and diesel vehicles in comparison with typical emissions from LPG and Natural Gas vehicles.
	Several sources of uncertainty arise when assessing the performance of LPG vehicles. The level of emissions improvement in LPG cars depends heavily on the particular engines and conversions involved and on the standard of conversion. For these reasons, absolute comparison of LPG and conventional cars is not possible. The table gives an indication of the comparative figures.
	
		Emission limit levels for new passenger cars—Conventional fuel cars and LPG cars
		
			  Diesel (g/km) Petrol (g/km)(10) 
			  NOx PM NOx 
		
		
			 Conventional fuel cars—EU emission limits
			 Euro III—mandatory from 2001 0.50 0.05 0.15 
			 Euro IV—mandatory from 2006 0.25 0.025 0.08 
			 LPG cars—indicative performance(11)   LPG NOx (g/km) 
			 2002–03—typical powershift approved aftermarket conversion n/a n/a 0.123 
			 2002–03—typical OEM ('Original Equipment Manufacturer') LPG car n/a n/a 0.035 
		
	
	(10) No PM limits for petrol or LPG vehicles, since emissions are very low.
	(11) Data provided by Energy Saving Trust
	Compressed natural gas is primarily used as an alternative fuel for heavy goods vehicles. The following table was included in the road fuel gas consultation document and shows the comparative performance of a natural gas version of one widely used vehicle, compared to EU diesel standards.
	
		Natural gas emissions—performance of a Scania re-engineered vehicle, compared to EU limit values heavy duty vehicles g/kwh(12)
		
			 Emission limits Test cycle NOx PM10 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Diesel vehicle
			 Euro III (13)ETC 5 (14)0.16 and 0.21 
			 Euro IV ETC 3.5 0.03 
			 Euro V ETC 2.0 0.03 
			 Natural gas vehicle
			 CNG Scania vehicle(15) ETC 0.96 0.007 
		
	
	Source:
	(12) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/automotive/pagesback/
	pollutant emission/pollutant.pdf
	(13) European Transient Cycle
	(14) For engines having a swept volume of less than 0.75 dm3 per cylinder and a rated power speed of more than 3,000 min-1
	(15) CNG Emission Tests based on Scania re-engineering programme Millbrook Vehicle Emissions Laboratory g/kwh

Grand Prix

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking in conjunction with (a) the Highways Agency and (b) other interested parties to facilitate access to the Silverstone circuit for the next Grand Prix weekend, with particular attention to hours of peak traffic flow on each of the three days of the meeting.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency is working closely with all agencies involved in the Silverstone Grand Prix to produce a traffic management plan that meets the needs of those travelling to and from the Circuit as well as local communities and other road users.

Highways Agency

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what way the Highways Agency takes account of the views of neighbouring local authorities when major changes to trunk roads are under consideration.

David Jamieson: Major changes to trunk roads normally arise from the Government's programme of multi-modal or road based studies and this process involves full local and region wide consultation with statutory bodies and local stakeholders. This would include both the local highway and planning authorities. Once the Highways Agency is asked to develop schemes in more detail local public consultation is carried out into options.
	Neighbouring authorities would normally be invited to comment on proposals if the road changes could significantly affect traffic in their area. Should orders under the Highways Act be required there would be further opportunity for comment.

M2

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the noise mitigation work on the Bredgar section of the M2 will commence; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 30 January 2004
	The Bredgar section of the M2 meets the criteria for the Government's £5 million annual ring fenced noise mitigation budget but due to the number of other pressing cases, has a lower priority. However this section of the M2 will shortly require resurfacing for maintenance reasons, using the quieter surfacing materials that will help reduce the traffic noise. The Highways Agency will aim to resurface this section of the M2 in the 2005–06 financial year, subject to funding being available.

Rail Authorities

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by (a) the Strategic Rail Authority, (b) the Health and Safety Executive railway branch, (c) the Office of the Rail Regulator and (d) Department of Transport railway divisions.

Kim Howells: Staff numbers for the Strategic Rail Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and the Office of the Rail Regulator are contained in the relevant organisation's Annual Reports. Copies of such reports are routinely placed in the Libraries of the House. As at 1 April 2003, 83 staff were employed in my Department's Rail Directorate.

Railways

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many SPADs there have been on the railway network in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: The Health and Safely Executive (HSE) advise that for the 12 month period to 31 December 2003 there were 396 signals passed at danger (SPADs) on the main line railway in Great Britain. This compares with earlier years totals of 383 for 2002, 483 for 2001, 479 for 2000 and 618 for 1999, the year of the Ladbroke Grove crash. Detailed information and analysis of SPADs can be obtained from the HSE's monthly SPAD reports, copies of which are available from the House Library.

Railways

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans Network Rail has to expand capacity on routes into London termini from stations in commuter range.

Kim Howells: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has produced a 'Capacity Utilisation Policy' which aims to make the most efficient use of the existing network. A copy of the document is posted on the SRA's website at www.sra.gov.uk. Individual 'Route Utilisation Strategies' will now be developed, and these will help to inform the need for any future infrastructure enhancements.

Road Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost to public funds is of (a) a fatal road crash, (b) a road crash involving a serious injury and (c) a road crash involving a slight injury; and what the costs were in each case in 1994.

David Jamieson: The values currently used to estimate the benefits of the avoidance of road accidents are set out in the "Highways Economic Note No.1: 2002 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
	These values, based on 2002 casualty data, were (a) fatal £1,447,490, (b) serious £168,260, (c) slight £16,750. These amounts are the values to be used in cost benefit analysis. They take account of medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay for reduction of risk, the costs of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. Included within these values are the cost to public funds for hospital and ambulance costs and the costs of police and courts. In 2002, these costs were £6,860, £11,900 and £1,020 for fatal, serious and slight accidents respectively. The lost production element includes social security costs but these are not separately estimated. The equivalent estimates for 1994 for the avoidance of road accidents were (a) fatal £913,140, (b) serious £108,080, and (c) slight £10,630. In 1994 the costs for hospital and ambulance and police and courts were £5,120, £8,330 and £700 for fatal, serious and slight accidents respectively.

Rural Speed Limits

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when guidelines for rural speed limits will be made available to local authorities.

David Jamieson: Guidance to local authorities on the setting of local speed limits, including rural speed limits, already exists and is contained in Department of Transport Circular Roads 1/93. The Department plans to review and update the guidance, and will be consulting local authorities and other stakeholders on the matter in the next few months.

Speed Cameras (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when speed cameras were first introduced (a) in Prittlewell Chase and (b) on the A127 within the boundaries of Southend; and how many have been introduced since this date.

David Jamieson: From information provided by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership, the first speed camera to be used in Prittlewell Chase was a mobile unit in February 2001. A second mobile site location was subsequently approved and was first used in March 2001. The first speed camera introduced on the A127 was a fixed unit placed in 2001. A further four fixed cameras were introduced during 2003.

Traffic Lights (Sheppey)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the Highways Agency research into new traffic lights at Cowstead Corner, Sheppey.

David Jamieson: holding answer 30 January 2004
	The Highways Agency has studied the feasibility of installing signals at the A249 Cowstead Corner junction. The Study concluded that the installation of traffic signals would increase queuing times during off peak periods and recommended that this scheme should not go ahead. However an improved roundabout junction at Cowstead Corner will be provided as part of the new A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Scheme. Work is due to start in spring 2004.
	Given the frequency of routine studies of this kind, it is not usual for them to be published. If demand requires, the Highways Agency will make the information available on request. However decisions on this will be on a case by case basis and dependent on the commercial sensitivity of the report produced.

Train Rolling Stock

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to protect passenger interests from leasing contracts for train rolling stock that provide comparatively poor value for money.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1310W.

Train Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Tony McNulty: The Secretary of State regularly travels by all modes of public transport. My right hon. Friend last travelled by train in connection with his ministerial duties last week.

Uninsured Cars

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) untaxed, (b) uninsured and (c) uninsured and untaxed cars there are in the UK.

David Jamieson: The 2002 estimate of the number of unlicensed (i.e. untaxed) vehicles is £1.76 million, of which 161,568 were declared as SORN 1 . This estimate includes £1.19 million vehicles in the car and light van category, of which 104,419 were declared as SORN.
	Estimates from the insurance industry are that there are about 1.25 million motorists driving whilst uninsured.
	I understand that many of the vehicles which are unlicensed are also uninsured. My Department is currently undertaking research to estimate the number of vehicles that are unlicensed, uninsured and without a valid MoT Certificate.
	1 Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) is a system by which vehicle keepers who tell the DVLA that they are taking their vehicle off the road are not obliged to tax them.
	Source:
	Vehicle Excise Duty Evasion 2002 published by the Office of National Statistics.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many owners of untaxed foreign cars were traced and brought into the car tax regime in the last year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the number of untaxed foreign owned cars in the United Kingdom.

David Jamieson: International agreements govern the use of motor vehicles in international traffic. The main principle is that a vehicle properly registered, taxed, insured and tested in its home country should not be subject to domestic laws of the host country during a temporary visit.
	DVLA does not have information on the number of foreign owned cars registered in GB or those which are evading tax. Discussions are taking place with police and local authorities in an attempt to quantify the extent of the problem.

Vehicle Fuels

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles he estimates are powered by (a) liquefied petroleum gas, (b) compressed natural gas, (c) petrol and (d) diesel, broken down by (i) cars, (ii) buses, (iii) coaches and (iv) trucks in (A) the UK, (B) the North West, (C) Lancashire and (D) Chorley.

David Jamieson: The following tables show the numbers of cars, buses/coaches and trucks broken down by fuel type—gas, petrol and diesel—for Great Britain, the North West, Lancashire and Chorley, at the end of 2002. Unfortunately, data is only available for Great Britain and not for the UK. Gas refers to vehicles powered by gas, petrol/gas, gas/bi-fuel and gas/diesel, as available data is not broken down by liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas. Further, the available data is not broken down separately by buses and coaches.
	
		
			  Gas Petrol Diesel 
		
		
			 United Kingdom
			 Cars 28,841 21,839,478 3,912,375 
			 Buses/Coaches 147 1,238 90,933 
			 Trucks 247 2,499 422,457 
			 
			 North West
			 Cars 2,828 2,421,026 451,778 
			 Buses/Coaches 13 131 10,918 
			 Trucks 22 338 58,934 
			 
			 Lancashire
			 Cars 597 491,703 100,857 
			 Buses/Coaches 1 28 1,958 
			 Trucks 8 59 11,076 
			 
			 Chorley
			 Cars 69 38,897 8,444 
			 Buses/Coaches  1 59 
			 Trucks  8 1,132

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of the cases listed were.

David Lammy: None.

Census (1911)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1112W, on the 1911 Census, for what reasons the 1921, 1951 and 1961 census records for England and Wales are listed in Public Records Act Instruments No. 5, No. 23 and No. 38; and whether those census records are closed to public inspection solely under the provisions of Public Records Act Instrument No.12.

Christopher Leslie: Under S.3 (4) of the Public Records Act 1958, public records are usually transferred to the National Archives or an approved place of deposit not later than 30 years after their creation. However, they may be retained in departments if they are required for administrative purposes or another special reason. In these cases departments have to obtain the approval of the Lord Chancellor, after he has received the views of his Advisory Council on National Records and Archives. The present position is that Lord Chancellor's Instruments numbers 38 (1996) and 63 (2001) sanction the retention of the 1921, 1951 and 1961 census records by the Office for National Statistics for administrative purposes.
	Lord Chancellor's Instrument number 12 (1966) gives effect to the closure period of 100 years, which applies to decennial census returns.

Census (1911)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1112W, on the 1911 Census, how many applications were approved in each year from 1999 to 2003, under the provisions of section 5 (1) of the Public Records Act 1958, to reduce previously determined periods of closure on departmental records.

Christopher Leslie: Under section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 the following number of applications to reduce previously determined periods of closure on departmental records were approved:
	
		
			  Applications 
		
		
			 1999 157 
			 2000 84 
			 2001 75 
			 2002 161 
			 2003 175

Criminal Cases (Costs)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average cost was per case for magistrates courts criminal cases dealt with in England and Wales by (a) solicitors in private practice and (b) the Criminal Defence Service in the last year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The amount of money charged for private work by a solicitor, not funded by the Criminal Defence Service in private practice, for magistrates courts cases is a matter between the solicitor and client and as such this information is not held centrally.
	(b) The average solicitor defence costs for a publicly funded magistrates court case paid from the Criminal Defence Service in 2002–03 was £515.

Honours System

David Amess: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations his Department has received about reforming the honours system.

Christopher Leslie: None.

Honours System

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when Sir Hayden Phillips started his review of the honours system; what the remit is of his review; when he is due to finish it; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have been asked to reply.
	The current review began in the summer of 2003. The review's remit is to consider how to introduce greater transparency into the honours process and how to ensure the Honours List is representative of society. Sir Hayden Phillips will deliver his report when it is completed.

House of Lords

David Amess: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many meetings he has had with Peers to discuss reforming the House of Lords.

Christopher Leslie: Since taking office on the 12 June 2003, I have had seven separate meetings with Peers and Bishops scheduled to discuss reforming the House of Lords.

Hutton Inquiry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the cost of the Hutton Inquiry.

David Cameron: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost was of the Hutton Inquiry.

Christopher Leslie: The precise cost is still being determined and we will publish the figure once it is available

Judges

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints he has received in the last 12 months from members of the (a) legal profession and (b) public, concerning the competence of named judges; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: From 1 January to 31 December 2003, 1,113 complaints about members of the judiciary were received in the Judicial Correspondence Unit. The Unit does not keep statistics to allow the identification of complaints relating to 'judicial competence'. However, figures for the number of complaints relating to judicial decisions are available and show that 455 such complaints were received. Of these, 11 came from members of the legal profession and the remaining 444 from members of the public.
	The principle of judicial independence, which is central to our constitutional arrangements, means that it is not open to the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor or his Department to consider complaints about judicial decisions. However, the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor does consider complaints about the personal conduct of individual Judges and other judicial office holders.

Judicial Appointments

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Lord Chancellor's joint working party on the appointment of QCs and judges will next meet.

Christopher Leslie: It is planned to reconvene the Joint Working Party on Equal Opportunities in Judicial Appointments and Silk in the next couple of months to discuss the outcome of last year's consultation paper on the future of judicial appointments and issues concerning diversity in the judiciary.

Judicial Appointments

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of (a) magistrates and (b) judges are from an ethnic minority group.

Christopher Leslie: There are 24,419 magistrates in England and Wales excluding the Duchy of Lancaster (where the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for appointments). There are 3,925 magistrates in the Duchy of Lancaster bringing the overall total of magistrates to 28,344. In England and Wales (excluding the Duchy) 1,490 magistrates declare themselves to be from a black and ethnic minority (BME) group, which is 6.1 per cent. In the Duchy of Lancaster there are 219 magistrates from BME groups, which is 5.6 per cent. Therefore the overall total of magistrates from a BME group is 1,709 which is 6 per cent. As at 1 January 2004, of 3,613 judicial officers in England and Wales (excluding tribunals), 130 declared themselves to be of minority ethnic origin. This represents 3.6 per cent. of the total. The following table gives a breakdown of judges in post for the main judicial offices, who have declared themselves to be of minority ethnic origin.

Legal Aid

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of separating the legal aid budget into separate accounts for (a) civil, including family, (b) criminal and (c) asylum cases.

David Lammy: Separate accounts are already prepared for civil including family, criminal, and asylum. Asylum legal aid forms part of a single fund covering the Home Office and Department for Constitutional Affairs asylum and immigration expenditure. Criminal and civil legal aid are contained within the DCA Departmental Expenditure Limit.

Legal Aid

Nick Harvey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was paid in salaries to those employed in dealing with or administering the work of the Legal Aid Board in 1996; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested, as the Legal Aid Board did not calculate salaries on a calendar year basis. The total amount paid in salaries and wages to those employed by the Legal Aid Board in the financial year 1996–97 was £22,003,000.

Legal Aid

Ian Lucas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many solicitors firms in Wrexham carried out publicly funded matrimonial legal help work in the last three years for which records are available;
	(2)  how much has been spent on family mediation in Wrexham from the Legal Help Fund;
	(3)  how many matrimonial matter legal help starts were (a) allocated and (b) used in Wrexham in the last three years for which figures are available;
	(4)  how much was paid to solicitors' firms in Wrexham for matrimonial legal help work in the last three years for which records are available.

David Lammy: The following table indicates the number of family contractors, the number of family legal help matter starts allocated and started, and the cost of claims for those matters, in Wrexham over the last three years.
	In addition to these contracts, the North Wales Family Mediation Service is based in Llandudno and has outposts in Wrexham and Bangor. The service undertakes a large amount of work from the Wrexham outpost, but the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is unable to quantify the breakdown of work undertaken geographically and how much of the money the LSC paid the service overall relates specifically to Wrexham. In 2002–03 the LSC paid the service a total of £58,562.59.
	
		Table 1: Family legal help provision in Wrexham
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Number of family legal help contracts 10 9 9 8 
			 Number of family legal help matter starts awarded 1,131 1,276 1,326 1,084 
			 Number of family legal help matters started 960 1,085 1,109 (16)— 
			 Cost of claims for family legal help work (£) 115,427 162,721 226,206 (16)— 
		
	
	(16) Full year figures are not available.

Legal Services Commission

Nick Harvey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was paid in salaries to those employed in dealing with or administering the work of the Legal Services Commission during calendar year 2003; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission is not able to provide the information in the exact form requested, as it does not calculate salaries on a calendar year basis. The total amount paid in salaries and wages to those employed by the Legal Services Commission in the financial year 2002–03 was £35,056,000.

Queen's Counsel

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the review of the Queen's Counsel system.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are considering the issues and we hope to make a statement soon.

Security Passes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: In the last 12 months, 113 security passes have been reported lost and 16 reported stolen by staff within the Department for Constitutional Affairs. One security pass has been reported lost in the Scotland Office and there have been no reported lost or stolen passes in the Wales Office.
	When a security pass is reported lost or stolen, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the risk of unauthorised access into any of the Department's buildings.

Sentencing (Video Links)

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to extend the use of video links for the purpose of sentencing, where appropriate.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	Live video links between courts and prisons can currently be used for preliminary court hearings and the Government are considering whether, subject to the provision of suitable safeguards, these can be extended to sentencing.

PRIME MINISTER

BBC (Government Representations)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what record is kept of representations made to the BBC by the Government; and by whom.

Tony Blair: No central record is kept.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff in his Office have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of those cases were.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, none.

Business Social andEnvironmental Impact Reports

Andy King: To ask the Prime Minister how many FTSE 350 companies have (a) made representations to him regarding his challenge of October 2000 to produce reports on their social and environmental impacts and (b) published such reports.

Tony Blair: I have received eight corporate social reports on this issue. Following my challenge, a summary of a survey conducted by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs of environmental reporting by the FTSE 350 was placed in the Library of the House in July 2002.
	As far as I am aware, 124 FTSE 350 companies currently produce social and environmental reports.

Cabinet Papers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to change the 30-year restriction on the disclosure of Cabinet papers; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The Government have done a great deal to increase the openness and transparency of their proceedings. The Freedom of Information Act is a significant step forward that will be implemented from January 2005 and we will continue to keep under review further steps towards greater openness.

EU Enlargement

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the EU accession countries on the expected number of migrants coming to the UK after enlargement.

Tony Blair: The Government continue to be in close contact with EU accession states on this issue.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) at Prime Minister's Questions on 11 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1405–06.

Headed Notepaper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what authority members of the Prime Minister's staff have to use 10 Downing street headed paper while employed in his office.

Tony Blair: Staff employed in my office use 10 Downing street paper, in the course of their official duties, as it is the office in which they work.

Iraq

Michael Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the information received on 29 August 2002 that some of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction could be deployed within 45 minutes of an order to use them, on what date he published the information that this referred to battlefield weapons.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Gerald Howarth) on 15 September 2003.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether changes were made to the content of the Iraq weapons of mass destruction dossier between the version signed off by John Scarlett on 20 September 2002 and the version sent to the printer for publication; on what day the final version was delivered to the printer; and on what day the printing was done.

Tony Blair: John Scarlett set out to Lord Hutton the changes that were made to the dossier and explained how they were made to bring the text in line with underlying intelligence. The dossier was sent to the printers on 20 September. Further manuscript changes were made by Mr. Scarlett and his staff that day, acting under the delegated authority of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and are set out at Appendix 12 of Lord Hutton's report.
	Mr. Scarlett made further grammatical changes at the proof-reading stage at the printer and deleted a reference to the Iraqi football team under the sub-heading: "Saddam Hussein's Family" in part 3 of the document.
	The document was finally proof-read by the assessment staff and signed-off on 23 September 2002, and it was printed on the same day.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Richard Ottaway) of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 772, if he will list the occasions between 1 January 2003 and 1 May 2003 when the 45-minute matter in respect of alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was raised with him.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, none.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, South on 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 772, when he knew that the 45-minute launch time referred to Iraqi battlefield chemical and biological weapons.

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  pursuant to his statement on 4 February on what date after 18 March 2003 he was first made aware that the 45-minute claim related to battlefield weapons or small calibre weaponry;
	(2)  on what date prior to 4 February he had made it clear exactly when he had been made aware of the classes of weapons to which the 45-minute claim referred.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) Croydon, South (Richard Ottaway) and Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1345–46W.

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government warned the Iraqi regime that the use of chemical or biological weapons would meet with a nuclear response.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1346W.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what information the British Government passed to Dr. Hans Blix to assist in his search for weapons of mass destruction; what the results were of the weapons inspectors' investigations following up information passed on by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Since 1991, successive Governments have assisted the work of UN inspectors in Iraq, including Dr. Hans Blix and UNMOVIC. The Government provided information on our understanding of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and their associated programmes, based on all available sources. Dr. Blix acknowledged this himself on 13 January 2003 when he said on the BBC World Service:
	"We have fairly good co-operation both with the Americans and British and other sources of intelligence and we are beginning to make more use of it".
	Information passed by the Government would have been incorporated with information obtained by the UN inspectors from their other sources. It is not possible to say what the results were of UN inspectors' investigations based only on information passed by HMG.
	Dr. Blix's reports to the UN Security Council do not differentiate between findings resulting from UK information and findings resulting from information from other sources.

Minister for the Disabled

Iris Robinson: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to appoint a Minister for the Disabled.

Tony Blair: My hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) is the Minister for Disabled People.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what correspondence he has received from Nirex in respect of the issues raised by the proposed compensation of host communities chosen as locations for radioactive waste management repositories.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, I have received one letter from Nirex on this issue drawing attention to the Nirex report, published in 2002, entitled "Compensation in Radioactive Waste Management: Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Host Communities".

SIS (Staff Counsellor)

Frank Roy: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Staff Counsellor for the Security and Intelligence Services.

Tony Blair: Sir John Chilcot GCB has served as Staff Counsellor for the Security and Intelligence Services (the Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service and GCHQ) since 1 April 1999. He was due to retire from the post on 31 March 2004. On 3 February, however, I appointed Sir John to the Committee to Review Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction and he relinquished his role as Staff Counsellor that day.
	I have now appointed John Warne CB, Director-General for Counter-Terrorism, Organised Crime, Drugs and International Affairs at the Home Office until September 2002, as his successor, with effect from 4 February 2004 and he will take on all new cases. Sir John Chilcot will continue to deal with those cases that he was handling prior to 3 February, and is confident that there is no conflict of interest.

Train Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Tony Blair: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, and use the train as and when appropriate and taking account of security considerations.
	All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in "Travel by Ministers".

HEALTH

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that there is no new outbreak of CJD in Britain.

Melanie Johnson: It has been scientifically established that the strains of agent causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) are indistinguishable, and the most plausible explanation, although not yet proven, is that BSE transmitted to humans via contaminated meat or meat products. In 2002, the World Health Organisation published consumer information, which states that the consumption of contaminated meat and other food products from cattle with BSE is presumed to be the cause of vCJD in humans.
	The United Kingdom has in place stringent controls to minimise the risk of the BSE agent getting into the food chain. These include a ban on mammalian and other processed animal proteins being fed to farmed livestock; the specified risk material (SRM) controls that prohibit from human consumption those parts of the animal that might harbour BSE; and the over 30 months rule that does not permit most older animals to enter the food chain. The Beef Assurance Scheme does allow a few older animals into the food chain, if reared from grass in beef herds, subject to special rules. All measures currently in place are rigorously enforced, for example by members of the Meat Hygiene Service supervising activity at abattoirs.
	The Department of Health has taken a number of measures to reduce the risks of CJD infection arising from one person passing it on to another, in particular through blood and surgery.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken to establish whether an increase in sporadic CJD is connected to BSE contaminated meat.

Melanie Johnson: An increase in deaths in the United Kingdom from sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) from about 10 per year in 1970 to about 40 a year in the 1990s has been reported. These rates are comparable to those observed elsewhere in the world, including countries free of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The increased numbers reported probably reflects improved diagnosis, particularly in elderly patients.
	Recent examination of the possible causes of the increased rates of sporadic CJD in Switzerland concluded that there was no evidence that the Swiss patients developed the disease as a result of exposure to BSE.
	A laboratory study in an animal model published in 2002 (Asante et al 2002. EMBO Journal vol 21) raised the possibility that BSE infection may be linked with disease pathology characteristic of sporadic CJD in humans. Copies are available in the Library. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), the independent, international group of experts that advises the United Kingdom Government on all matters connected with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, considered this paper in February 2003 and acknowledged that it was plausible but considered that the new work did not provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis.

Food Supplements

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health following the granting of leave by the High Court for a case against the Food Supplements Directive to be taken to the European Court of Justice, if he will press the Commission to attempt to achieve a political agreement that the European Food Safety Authority will only set maximum limits for permitted levels of nutrients in supplements on grounds of safety.

Melanie Johnson: The Government awaits the outcome of the reference of the validity of the Food Supplements Directive to the European Court of Justice with interest. In the meantime, the United Kingdom will continue to argue for safety-based European Community regulation of food supplements. The UK Government's position continues to be that maximum limits should be set on the basis of safety and not unnecessarily limited by supposed nutritional need.

Allergies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's strategy for diagnosis and management of allergies in the National Health Service; what guidance is issued to primary care staff on diagnosis and treatment options; what provision is made for access to allergy specialists; and what support and funding is provided for research into the (a) causes and (b) treatment of allergies.

Stephen Ladyman: It is the role of primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to decide what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services to meet them.
	The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published their report, "Allergy—the unmet need: a blueprint for better patient care", on 25 June 2003. We welcome the RCP report and believe it is a useful contribution to the debate on how to improve National Health Service allergy services. The report noted that allergies including asthma, rhinitis, eczema, food allergy and drug allergy are becoming increasingly common. It calls for improved NHS allergy services across the board and offered useful models about how this could be achieved.
	A range of research projects on the epidemiology of allergies have recently been completed or are ongoing. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was formed in 1991. Phase One measured the prevalence of childhood asthma, hayfever and atopic eczema for international comparisons. Phase Two began in 1998 and involves more intensive studies in a smaller number of countries. The Department of Health funded the UK contribution to Phase Two.
	The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around £1 million a year is ongoing. King's College London is leading a £2.1 million European Commission (EC) funded prospective study of the incidence and prognosis of allergy, allergic disease and low lung function in adults living in Europe. Also, The University of Manchester is leading a £1.2 million EC-funded investigation of the prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of sun allergy across Europe. Sun-provoked skin reactions are one of the commonest forms of allergy.

Ambulance Service

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the procurement of a replacement radio system for the ambulance service; when he anticipates the contract will be awarded; and when he expects the new system to be in operation.

Rosie Winterton: The current negotiations are continuing and it is expected that a decision to announce the designated supplier of the new digital network and infrastructure is imminent. A designated supplier for a second contract for the provision of the radio handsets, fixed mobiles, ambulance control room equipment and integration will be announced very soon after.
	Following Capital Investment Branch (CIB), Her Majesties Treasury (HMT), Office of Government Commerce and appropriate board approvals, it is expected that the contract will be awarded mid to late May 2004.
	Following the award of contract, a pilot implementation will be undertaken at an English trust, followed by a full roll out across Great Britain.
	The timetable sets out an end date of late 2006–07 for all ambulance services in Great Britain to be fully operative.

Anti-ligature Policies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on anti-ligature policies for standard NHS environments.

Rosie Winterton: Following the Chief Medical Officer's report 'An Organisation with a Memory', a Department of Health directive was issued requiring all local mental health services to remove all non-collapsible bed and shower curtain rails in all in-patient settings. This has now been achieved.
	The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness made a number of recommendations that included a requirement that all in-patient wards should remove or cover all likely ligature points. The Department of Health supports these recommendations and has published a toolkit to help local mental health services implement them.
	Finally, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) plays a key role in bringing patient safety to a national level, enabling the entire National Health Service to learn from incidents and make itself safer.

Autism

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cross-departmental work is being carried out by his Department and the Department for Education and Skills in respect of those who have been diagnosed as autistic; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department of Health, in association with the Department for Education and Skills, published good practice guidance on autistic spectrum disorders in July 2002. The guidance was primarily aimed at schools and local education authorities but was also relevant to health and social services providers.
	The Government's new strategy for special educational needs (SEN) "Removing Barriers to Achievement", is jointly signed by Ministers from the Departments for Education and Skills (DfES), Health, and Work and Pensions. It sets out a strategy for improving SEN provision, including work focussed on autistic spectrum disorders. The strategy will complement relevant children's programmes, including the children's national service framework (NSF) and the autism exemplar under the NSF. The Department and the DfES will work closely on the development of the exemplar.

Autism

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on assisting those who have been diagnosed as autistic; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government's policy is that appropriate services should be provided for children and adults with autism according to each individual's needs.
	Most children with autism will need high quality support from health, education and social services. They should receive this through an integrated system. Our recently published Green Paper "Every Child Matters", sets out proposals to integrate children's services through the development of children's trusts and the appointment of local authority directors of children's services.
	We are also developing the children's national service framework (NSF), which will set new national standards for the national health service and social services. Services for disabled children will be a key part of the NSF, which will include care pathways/exemplar diagrams illustrating optimum approaches to delivering services in a number of different areas. We have already announced that autism will be used as an exemplar.
	Children with autistic spectrum disorders are also benefiting from the programmes we are introducing to improve family support services for disabled children. The Quality Protects programme to improve children's social services has made disabled children a priority area. From 2001–02 to 2003–04, £60 million from the children's services special grant has been earmarked for services for disabled children and their families—£15 million in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and £30 million this year. Quality Protects management action plans show that more family support services are being provided, particularly home based respite care and sitting services.
	Our White Paper, "Valuing People", directly covers every adult with autism who also has a learning disability. Implementation guidance, issued in August 2001, makes clear that adults with Asperger's Syndrome or higher functioning autism are not precluded from using learning disability services, where appropriate, and may require an assessment of their social functioning and communication skills in order to establish their level of need. By bringing together a wide range of local statutory agencies, Valuing People gives us the scope to improve opportunities and services for people across the autistic spectrum.
	People with autism are benefiting from funding of over £250,000, which the Department made through the Section 64 Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations between 1999–2000 and 2002–03. We are currently devoting further funds over three years to the National Autistic Society project, "Independence and Autism: Good Practice for Service Providers". This will support the development of new services to enable adults with autism or Asperger's Syndrome to live independently.
	People with autism will also gain, along with others, from the investment we are making to improve standards in health and social care services. In particular, they will benefit from the NHS Plan, the mental health NSF (which covers the mental health needs of adults with autism) and fair access to care services. We will continue to review what more needs to be done for all people affected by autistic spectrum disorders.

Autism

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed as being autistic in (a) 1990, (b) 2000 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Details of the number of people diagnosed with autism are not available. The Medical Research Council (MRC) published a comprehensive review of autism research in December 2001, which provides an authoritative overview of the current state of knowledge on the prevalence, incidence and causes of autism. The report was commissioned by the Department of Health. It is available on the MRC website at www.mrc.ac.uk/pdf-autism-report.pdf.
	The MRC report notes that according to recent reviews, there appears fairly good agreement that autism spectrum disorders affect approximately 60, and more narrowly defined autism 10 to 30, per 10,000 children under eight. The prevalence of autism among adult populations is not known.

Autism

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much financial support he has given for research into autism in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Medical Research Council (MRC), a non-departmental public body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, is the main public sector body which funds research into autism. The MRC spend on autism since 1998 is shown in the table.
	
		£ millions
		
			  Spend on autism 
		
		
			 1998–99 1.04 
			 1999–2000 1.11 
			 2000–01 1.18 
			 2001–02 1.26 
			 2002–03 1.30 
		
	
	The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.
	In February 2002, we allocated a further £2.5 million to the MRC to help it to take forward its programme of work on autism. Between December 2002 and July 2003, the MRC held a series of four seminars to encourage the development of good quality applications for autism research funding. Topics covered in the seminars were gut and the developing child; brain and mind (neuropsychology and neuroimaging); autism in populations and outcome measures for interventions in children and adults. On 11 July 2003 the MRC held the first of their annual forums for autism research, "Breaking barriers, building bridges", in conjunction with the National Autistic Society, to bring together ideas stimulated by the previous four seminars.
	The MRC will be taking decisions on the allocation of research project funding for further autism studies in early 2004.

Cancer Survey

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the analysis of the National Patient Cancer Survey commissioned by his Department.

Melanie Johnson: The analysis of the national cancer patient survey is expected to be completed shortly. A copy of the analysis will be placed in the Library then.

Cardiac Treatment (Brighton Hospitals)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis decisions are taken on whether persons receiving cardiac treatment at Brighton hospitals have (a) their travel expenses, (b) the accommodation costs of spouses or carers and (c) the travel expenses of spouses or carers met from public funds.

Rosie Winterton: The Department of Health has provided guidance on the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme. Primary Care Trusts are responsible for reimbursing provider units for the payments made under the scheme to all patients who are resident in their districts and eligible. Procedures for processing such claims should be agreed locally. Further information about the scheme can be found at http://www. doh.gov.uk/hospitaltravelcosts/intro.htm

Care Homes

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of availability of care home places in London and the South on the well-being of elderly people.

Stephen Ladyman: There were 12,200 care homes with 209,000 places in London and the South at 31 March 2001.
	Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission but comparable details are not yet available.
	It is up to local councils to determine the range of care options, including residential care home places, that are needed to ensure the well being of their local population. This information should then inform their commissioning strategies and decisions.

Care Registrations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission in processing new registrations.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Care Standards Commission is working hard to process new registrations as quickly as possible, never losing sight of the need to raise standards in the care sector.

Care Workers

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England are employed as care workers; and how many vacancies there are for care workers.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 11 February2004
	The number of vacancies for care staff in England is not available centrally.
	The estimated whole-time equivalent number of care staff employed by local authorities' social services departments in England as at 30 September 2002 (the latest date for which data are available) was 78,230. This excludes field social workers, central strategic and other administrative and support staff. The number of care staff employed in the private and voluntary sectors is not available centrally.
	For too long the work of social care workers in our community has been undervalued and under-rated making recruitment difficult. The Department of Health is determined to give all the assistance it can to tackle this problem. As part of our ongoing action in this area a new National Social Care Recruitment Campaign was launched on 2 February 2004. The purpose of the campaign is to recruit more people to the social care workforce, with a particular emphasis on attracting more people to work with older people. The five week campaign will appear on television and milk cartons and in a range of press titles.
	We have been meeting with local authorities and communicating with independent sector employers to maximise the impact of this campaign, so that they can use the interest generated by the campaign to promote and advertise their own social care vacancies to coincide with the campaign period.
	The main objective of our social care worker recruitment campaign is to show the depth and variety of work in which social care workers are involved and the many benefits they bring to so many people's lives. The campaign was produced following extensive research with potential and existing social care workers and dialogue with stakeholders.

Childhood Immunisation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of children did not receive any of the standard childhood immunisations in 2003.

Melanie Johnson: Information about the uptake childhood immunisations is published annually in Department of Health Statistical Bulletins. The latest bulletin, NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2002–03, is available in the Library and on the Department's web-site at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sbQ218.htm.

Consultant Contracts (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on consultant contracts in the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Melanie Johnson: All national health service trusts in England are now implementing the new contract for medical and dental consultants and are using the new consultant job planning system to ensure that this new investment brings the maximum benefits for patient care and for the quality of consultants' working lives. It is a matter for individual trusts and their consultants locally to agree how best to achieve these objectives.

Contaminated Blood

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the countries from which the NHS purchases plasma and blood products; and in which of these countries there have been cases of (a) CJD, (b) vCJD and (c) BSE.

Melanie Johnson: Plasma for fractionation into plasma products and fresh frozen plasma for neonates and children born after 1 January 1996 is imported from the United States. There has been one case of variant CJD in the US in a patient who had been resident in the United Kingdom. In December 2003, the US reported one case of BSE. Naturally occurring CJD occurs in one in one million people world-wide.

Contaminated Blood

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Blood Transfusion Committee has completed its contingency logistics plan on how to deal with possible blood shortages resulting from measures taken to reduce the risk of transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion; and when it will be published.

Melanie Johnson: The National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) has been developing contingency plans relating to blood shortages in general and not specifically to shortages resulting from any measures taken to reduce the possible transmission of vCJD through blood transfusion. The NBTC will distribute plans to hospitals later this year.

Contaminated Blood

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ban foreign nationals who have received blood in countries with confirmed cases of BSE from donating blood in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: There are no plans to ban foreign nationals from donating blood. The Government Expert Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissue for Transplantation continues to keep this issue under review.

Contaminated Blood

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement on developments in variant CJD of 17 December 2003, Official Report, columns 1571–85, what steps he is taking to encourage the NHS to move towards the greater use of alternatives to blood in non-emergency medical cases.

Melanie Johnson: The Chief Medical Officer's national blood transfusion committee meets in March 2004 and will consider additional proposals for supporting hospitals in the implementation of the "Better Blood Transfusion: Appropriate Use of Blood" initiative. The Department will consider the advice of the committee in deciding the best way forward.

Delayed Discharges (Essex)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total amount of fines imposed on Essex Social Services Department in January was as a result of delayed discharge of patients from hospital.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures for legal liability for delayed discharges for individual councils are not held centrally. The hon. Member might wish to contact Essex Social Services direct for this information.

Dietary Strategy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's strategy is for reducing (a) sugar levels in food and (b) the prevalence of people having excess sugar in their diet.

Melanie Johnson: There is a NHS Plan (2000) commitment to work with industry to improve the overall balance of the diet, including salt, fat and sugar in food. The Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency are in discussions with the food industry and retailers on reducing the level of salt in processed foods and work on added sugars and fat will follow through 2004.
	Wider initiatives will also have an impact on population average intakes of sugars, including the five-a-day programme, action in schools and the development of the food and health action plan.
	The food and health action plan will address diet and nutrition at all stages of the life course and will build on existing work. It will therefore be key for addressing intakes of added sugars, as well as fat and salt.

Domiciliary Care

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what actions the National Care Standards Commission has taken to publicise the need for providers of domiciliary care to be registered with them;
	(2)  what guidance has been issued by the National Care Standards Commission concerning the types of domiciliary care which are subject to regulation.

Stephen Ladyman: The requirement for domiciliary care providers to register with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002 (as amended). Primary guidance on the regulation of the domiciliary care sector is set by the Government in regulations and national minimum standards.
	The NCSC has undertaken a number of initiatives to publicise guidance on the registration requirements. For example, the NCSC's website www.carestandards. org.uk sets out the requirements for providers to register and gives details of how to obtain hard copies of relevant information. This section also specifically refers to the Domiciliary Care Regulations and the National Minimum Standards governing the sector as well as the regulations concerning fees and frequency of inspections. In addition, application packs for registration as a domiciliary care agency also include guidance on such services subject to regulation.
	The NCSC has also arranged meetings and workshops with providers at a national and local level to assist in the registration process and to explain the requirements of regulation. A provider reference group comprising industry leaders has also been established in order to cascade information specifically to the domiciliary care sector. Articles have also been published in the trade press, such as "Caring Times" and "Community Care".
	The NCSC continues to work with providers to give guidance throughout the registration process and afterwards.

Down's Syndrome

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department provided in 2003–04 for people affected by Down's Syndrome, including research into Down's Syndrome, broken down by (a) budget heading and (b) area of research.

Stephen Ladyman: Over £3 billion a year is spent on health and social services for people with learning disabilities including those with Down's Syndrome. People with Down's Syndrome also use mainstream health and social services and benefit from increased expenditure on those services.
	People with Down's Syndrome and their family carers will also benefit from our proposals for improving services for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers set out in the White Paper, "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001. "Valuing People" introduced an implementation support fund of £2.3 million a year from April 2001 and the Learning Disability Development Fund, comprising £23.1 million revenue and £20 million capital in 2003–04.
	Families of children with Down's Syndrome have also benefited from Government investment in programmes to support disabled children:
	The Quality Protects programme;
	Yearly rises in the carer's grant;
	Direct payments—one of the key aims is to give families greater choice and flexibility in how they receive services, including short term breaks;
	As part of the development of national service framework for children, the Government are considering how best to support the particular needs of families with disabled children.
	The Down's Syndrome Association has been awarded a grant of £28,000 for a two year project, "Planning for a Healthy Life".
	The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC supports basic and applied research into Down's Syndrome and spent an estimated £0.4 million in 2002–03 on Down's Syndrome research.
	The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the national health service. At present, we are funding a £2 million learning disability research initiative. This is addressing a range of issues, for example:
	support for school leavers with learning disabilities;
	reproductive health care needs of women with learning disabilities;
	measures of core competencies and job performance in residential support staff working with people with learning disabilities.
	The Department is currently meeting the service costs of a clinical trial of the effects of antioxidants and folinic acid supplementation on the mental development, growth and health of children with Down's Syndrome. The trial is a joint initiative between the Institutes of Child Health in London and Birmingham, the Down's Syndrome Association, the Down's Syndrome Research Foundation and the Research Unit of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

EU Directives

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) EU Directive 2001/20/EC and (b) the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2003 on cancer research in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: Member States were required to transpose the provisions of the Clinical Trials Directive (2001/20/EC) into national legislation by 1 May 2003, and to implement the Directive by 1 May 2004. The Government have consulted widely on these important new Regulations and undertaken to take account of all points of view, including the views of those involved in cancer research before finalising the implementing Regulations. One of the main aims of Directive 2001/20/EC is to provide a safe environment for participants in clinical trials while not inhibiting the development of essential new medicines for human use. Implementation of an efficient regulatory system will help new effective medicines for diseases such as cancer to reach the market more quickly whilst protecting subjects enrolling into clinical trials.

EU Directives

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) EU Directive 2001/20/EC and (b) the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The Clinical Trials Directive (2001/20/EC) was agreed by Member States in 2001. Member States were required to transpose the Directive into national legislation by 1 May 2003 and to implement the provisions of the Directive by 1 May 2004. Transposition of the Directive was delayed in the United Kingdom because of concerns expressed by the academic research community about the possible impact on academic research and because of the European Commission's delay in finalising two Commission Directives, one on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and one on Good Clinical Practice (GCP). The GMP Directive was agreed by Member States in 2003. We are committed to implementing the Clinical Trials Directive by 1 May 2004. We are currently finalising our implementing Regulations.

Gamma Cameras

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have gamma cameras; and what the date of their acquisition was in each case.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally by the Department.

GP Drug Training

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting list is for general practitioner training in substance misuse treatment.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 9 February 2004
	General practitioners receive training in substance misuse treatment through the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Certificate in the Management of Drug Misuse.
	All GPs who applied for a place on the course this year were allocated a place and accompanying funding.
	The Department has already allocated £3 million to the RCGP to support this training and recently approved a further £693,000 available to cover the costs of courses operating between April 2004 and March 2005.

Health Protection Agency

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the European Commission's REACH chemical regulations on the work of the Health Protection Agency at Porton Down; and what representations he has made to the Commission.

Melanie Johnson: REACH will not have any direct impact on the work of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as it is not a regulatory agency. However, a key objective of the new proposals is to ensure that more information is available on the health effects of chemicals of most concern and this should, in due course, facilitate the work of the chemical hazards and poisons division of the HPA.

Heroin Addicts

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the success rates in (a) France and (b) Sweden in treating heroin addiction; and what the success rate is in the UK.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 9 February 2004
	Departmental officials are not aware of any studies which have been undertaken to review the effectiveness of treatment for heroin addiction in Sweden or France.

Hospice Funding

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the funds he announced on 26 December 2003 to improve care for the dying will be allocated; and how much will be made available to hospices.

Melanie Johnson: The Command Paper arising from the recent consultation on Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS, "Building on the Best", stated that, building on work already in hand to develop specialist palliative care services for cancer, we will be working in partnership with voluntary and statutory bodies to build on current initiatives and extend them over time to all adult patients nearing the end of life. The project will, therefore, benefit all patients, including those with cancer. The additional £12 million (over three years) funding to support this initiative announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 26 December will specifically help support implementation of the Macmillan Gold Standards Framework, South Lancashire and Cumbria Cancer Network's Preferred Place of Care and Marie Curie's Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying.
	Arrangements for the allocation of the £12 million is still being finalised. The Department, through the national clinical director, is working closely with key stakeholders on how this project will be handled.

Hospice Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much money has been given through the NHS to (a) Derian House Hospice and (b) St Catherine's Hospice in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much money has been given to Derian House Children's Hospice since 2001 by each primary care trust.

Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the format requested. However, during 2002–03, the Chorley & South Ribble Primary Care Trust provided recurrent funding of £427,000 to St. Catherine's Hospice and £11,000 to Derian House Hospice.
	Financial returns in previous years do not separately identify payments made to hospices.

Illegal Meat

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support the Food Standards Agency is providing to local authorities to aid them in the (a) detection and (b) prosecution of traders in illegal meat.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) can offer assistance to local authorities (LAs) in the form of access to thirty members of the illegal meat task force and seven investigating officers to assist them in their enquiries into the illegal meat trade.
	These officers have received comprehensive training by the FSA on investigative procedures and techniques, so that they can then advise LAs as to the most appropriate way they can proceed with their investigations.
	The task force members are regionally based in LAs and each will initially provide up to ten working days per year in their role as adviser. The costs of their services will be borne directly by the FSA.
	LAs may also apply to the FSA for financial assistance towards their work of detecting and prosecuting traders in illegal meat.
	The FSA has allocated an initial annual sum of £200,000 to assist LAs in this area of work.

Learning Disabilities

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on health provision for (a) children and (b) adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Stephen Ladyman: Both children and adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities have the same right of access to national health service treatment as everyone else. Our White Paper, "Valuing People—a New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086, paragraph 8.33), recognises that people with severe and profound learning disabilities often have other associated health problems such as physical disabilities, sensory impairments and epilepsy.
	The White Paper says that specialist learning disability staff have important roles in enhancing the competence of other local services to support service users in their usual surroundings and in enabling them to access mainstream services. Good practice guidance on "Valuing People" proposals for health action plans and health facilitation devotes a full chapter to people with sensory impairments and/or profound and multiple learning disabilities.
	"Valuing People" made people with severe and profound learning disabilities a priority for Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) capital investment. When we wrote to chief executives of primary care trusts in February 2004, we asked them to take account of the needs of people with high support needs when deciding how best to use their 2004–05 LDDF revenue allocations.
	We are also developing the children's national service framework (NSF), which will set new national standards for the NHS and social services. Services for disabled children will be a key part of the NSF, which will include care pathways/exemplar diagrams illustrating optimum approaches to delivering services in a number of different areas.

Mental Health (Suicide)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what standards on (a) furniture and (b) accessories the Government sets for those caring for mental health patients in an effort to reduce the risk of suicide; and whose responsibility it is to ensure that these standards are met;
	(2)  what standards are applied to the building of mental health institutions in order to lower the risk of patient suicides.

Rosie Winterton: NHS Estates publishes guidance for psychiatric accommodation in the form of hospital building notes (HBNs) and design guides (DCs). NHS Estates also provide technical guidance to supplement HBNs and DCs covering individual elements of buildings such as doors, windows etc.
	Other guidance includes "Psychiatric intensive care units—policy guidance and standards" published by the Department of Health.
	Guidance was also issued in September 2000 to eliminate the possibility of suicides from cubicle curtain tracks, window curtain tracks and shower rails by replacing the ligature points with low weight release systems. This work was completed by April 2002. Attention was also drawn to many other ligature points which should also be removed including wardrobe rails, door closers, rigid fixed coat hooks, door handles, window mechanisms and radiators.
	It is the responsibility of the trust and their professional advisors to satisfy themselves that all measures possible have been taken to eliminate the risk of self-harm by a patient.
	"The Architectural Healthcare Environment and its Effects on Patient Health Outcomes" an NHS Estates funded research project undertaken by Sheffield University, includes standards which contribute to a reduction in the risk of suicide.
	The standards being used in newly designed psychiatric facilities are providing a very high standard of design quality with good space standards, plenty of natural light and ventilation, privacy and dignity for the patients and access to a range of therapeutic facilities and external spaces.

Mental Health (Suicide)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on reducing the risks of suicide in mental health hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England has identified those in touch with mental health services as a group at high risk of suicide. The strategy sets out a number of actions mental health services need to take to reduce the risk of suicides within this high risk group. The first annual report of the suicide prevention programme sets out progress made so far and further action that needs to be taken in the medium and longer term. A copy of the report is available in the Library.

Mental Health (Suicide)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what (a) precedent cases and (b) expert knowledge (i) the Government and (ii) relevant bodies refer when seeking to reduce the risks of suicide in mental health hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) funds the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness to ensure that everyone involved in mental health services learns and implements lessons from the factors associated with serious incidents. The inquiry team published Safety First: Five Year Report in 2001. The key findings and recommendations outlined in this report also helped to develop the national suicide prevention strategy. The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) has developed a toolkit to help mental health services implement the report's recommendations.
	In addition, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) plays a key role in bringing patient safety to a national level, enabling the entire National Health Service to learn from incidents and make itself safer and more stress free for patients.
	Finally, Standard 7 of the national service framework for mental health requires local health and social care communities to develop local systems for suicide audit to learn lessons and take any necessary action.

Mental Health (Suicide)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the links between suicide in mental health institutions and high drug abuse and dependency rates.

Rosie Winterton: Safety First, the five year report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness, highlighted substance abuse as a risk factor in incidents of suicide by people under the care of mental health services and set out recommendations for local services based on these findings. These included local strategies for dual diagnosis covering training on the management of substance misuse, joint working with substance misuse services, and staff with specific responsibility to develop the local service.

Methadone

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of methadone prescriptions under the average dosage recommended by the National Treatment Agency which were issued in the last year for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The Department does not hold any data on the number of methadone prescriptions under the average dosage recommended by the National Treatment Agency.
	Methadone is issued for a number of different prescribing regimes including detoxification, reduction, and maintenance regimes. Prescribing data currently available does not differentiate between these regimes.

Ministerial Visits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley.

Melanie Johnson: There are no current plans by Ministers to undertake a visit to Derian House.

Multiple Sclerosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) work force implications of National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guidance for multiple sclerosis specialist services.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline on the clinical management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in primary care in November 2003. The guideline contains information on service provision which will be invaluable to clinicians and organisations providing and managing MS services. The guideline will help us to model service provision and workforce needs.

National Care Standards Commission

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the National Care Standards Commission has been in each year since its creation.

Stephen Ladyman: Revenue expenditure for the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) in the year 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was £119.446 million. The budget figure for 2003–04 is £129.949 million.
	Information for the full financial year 2003–04 is not yet available. This will be contained in the NCSC's 2003–04 Annual Report and Accounts to be published and laid before Parliament later this year.

National Care Standards Commission

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what income has been raised by the National Care Standards Commission in each year since its creation.

Stephen Ladyman: The income raised by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) in the year 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was £32.545 million. The budget figure for 2003–04 is £36.718 million.
	Information for the full financial year 2003–04 is not yet available. This will be contained in the NCSC's 2003–2004 Annual Report and Accounts to be published and laid before Parliament later this year.

NHS Beds

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) general and (b) acute hospital beds there were in (i) Chorley and (ii) Preston in each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of general and acute beds is collected annually from each national health service trust and primary care trust. Information is not available for geographical areas.
	The average daily number of available general and acute beds, by NHS trust, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Name General and acute (available) Acute (available) Geriatric (available) 
		
		
			 2000–01 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 320 304 16 
			 2000–01 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 709 590 119 
			 2001–02 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust/Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1,066 903 163 
			 2002–03 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 1,073 929 144 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03. Published 11 September 2003.

NHS Trust Documents

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on making available to hon. Members documents originating in NHS trusts; and what criteria he uses in deciding which of these documents may be placed in the Library when an hon. Member makes a request for them.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 January 2004
	The Department would generally make available information that it collects and retains, and as such would place this information in the Library, subject to any requirement for confidentiality. The Department would not generally seek to obtain copies of documents or information which it did not already hold. This approach is in line with the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and is consistent with the relationship between the Department and National Health Service organisations following the "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative.

Operation Telic

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many service men and women served in Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	Until 1 May, when major combat operations ceased, about 45,000 personnel were deployed to the Gulf region. Since then numbers have reduced to their current level, which fluctuates between 10,000 and 11,000.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the (a) Questions with reference numbers 144997, 144998, 145041, 145043, 145046 and 145055 tabled by the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 15 December 2003 and (b) Questions with reference numbers 144139, 144140, 144141, 144145 and 144148 tabled by the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 10 December 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The following Parliamentary Questions were transferred to the Home Office, 144997 and 144998. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Home Office (Beverley Hughes) replied to 144998 on 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1064W.
	The remaining Parliamentary Questions have now been responded to, and information relating to their responses is shown in the table.
	
		
			 PQ Date answered 
		
		
			 145041 3 February 2004, Official Report, column 821W 
			 145043 6 February 2004, Official Report, column 1131W 
			 145046 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 687W 
			 145055 28 January 2004, Official Report, column 400W 
			 144139 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 184–85W 
			 144140 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 184–85W 
			 144141 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 184–85W 
			 144145 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 961W 
			 144148 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 326W

Public Health Skills Audit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2004, Official Report, column 396W, on public health skills audit, what steps (a) his Department and (b) agencies of his Department have taken in response to the findings of the 2001 audit.

Melanie Johnson: The public health skills audit has led to a number of developments, including additional training programmes for a range of public health specialist and practitioners, particularly those from non-medical backgrounds, the establishment of the voluntary register for public health specialists, an on-line audit tool and national standards for public health specialists and practitioners.

Public Health White Paper

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish a white paper on public health; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: On 3 February, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced that the Department would engage in a wide-ranging consultation process on how best to improve and promote the nation's health.
	We intend to follow this with a White Paper later this year.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the susceptibility of different (a) gender and (b) age groups to pulmonary hypertension;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the recent increase in the number of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Stephen Ladyman: Pulmonary hypertension has a variety of causes and we have not made an assessment regarding the occurrence of the condition amongst different gender and age groups.
	We have no reason to believe that the true incidence of pulmonary hypertension is increasing. A full-scale research study would be needed to establish whether or not there is a true increase.

R and D

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to whom his Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments of (a) the Department and (b) its agencies there are in each region of England.

Melanie Johnson: Research and development expenditure is distributed to a range of bodies and principally through allocations to organisations across the national health service in England. Figures for staff directly employed as a result of such funding are not available. Research is carried out by a number of the Department's arm's length bodies, principally the Health Protection Agency, the National Radiological Protection Board and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.

Renal Services (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on renal services in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Melanie Johnson: Specialist renal services for patients across Cumbria and Lancashire are based at the Royal Preston Hospital. This is complemented by a number of satellite units, which are located at the Accrington Victoria Hospital, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital, and the Westmorland General Hospital. Patients with blood-borne viruses will be dialysed in Manchester.

Restructuring/Change Programme

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total reduction in numbers of departmental staff will be under the Change Programme.

Rosie Winterton: The Department will reduce by 1,400 posts to 2,245.

Rural Health Care

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address the health needs of elderly people in rural areas.

Stephen Ladyman: In March 2003, the Department provided information to the Countryside Agency on 'rural proofing' health and social care services, including those for older people. This information was included in the agency's report, "Rural Proofing", in 2002–03. The report can be viewed at www.countryside.gov.uk/publications.

School Fruit

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress is being made towards giving every child aged four to six a free piece of fruit each school day;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with other departments and local education authorities in England to promote the National School Fruit Scheme;
	(3)  how many local education authorities in England are participating in the National School Fruit Scheme.

Melanie Johnson: Over a million children aged four to six are already receiving a free piece of fruit every school day. 96 per cent., of local education authority (LEA) infant, primary and special schools with children aged four to six in four regions—the West and East Midlands, London and the North West—have joined the scheme. By the end of 2004, children in all such LEA schools in England will be entitled to receive free fruit—over 2.2 million children.
	The Department of Health has worked with the Department for Education and Skills and other Government Departments, including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to develop the scheme. National School Fruit Scheme regional and area co-ordinators have been working with LEAs in each region in which the scheme has been rolled out.
	Eighty Seven LEAs are participating on the scheme.

Sustainable Development

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy over the last two years.

Melanie Johnson: The Department's strategy on sustainable development and the environment is in line with the Government's overall sustainable development strategy, in which health ("expected healthy years of life") is one of the 15 key headline indicators.
	The Department's strategy has provided the impetus for increasing awareness of the need to take sustainable development considerations into account as part of all of the Department's activities. It recognises the key importance of reducing inequalities in health. The main strategy is supported also by a separate operational environment strategy and by the development of the Department's Environmental Management System. These have helped the Department meet the requirements of the Government's "Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate".
	The NHS Estates Agency (NHSE) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA)—both Executive Agencies of the Department—have their own sustainable development/environmental strategies in place. The NHSE has issued a "New Environmental Strategy for the NHS and Sustainable Development in the NHS" as guidance for the NHS. NHS PASA has a sustainable development policy which it published in February 2003. This policy describes the framework within which NHS PASA will conduct its activities in order to contribute towards global pursuits of sustainable development.
	Further information can be found on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/sustainabledevelopment. Details of the sustainable development activities of the agencies can be found at www.nhsestates.gov.uk (for the NHSE) and www.pasa.nhs.uk/sustainabledevelopment (for the NHS PASA).

Toxic Chemicals

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted by his Department into the accumulation of toxic chemicals in humans.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is currently co-funding a project at the University of Leeds to explore methods for the collection, storage and management of a national archive of human milk samples. The other funders are the Food Standards Agency (which leads), the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Health and Safety Executive. A human milk archive would provide a resource, which could be used to monitor levels of cumulative chemicals. This, in turn, will inform decisions by regulatory bodies on the need for strategies to reduce the use of cumulative chemicals and their levels in the environment and in food. The report of the project is expected later this year.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what departmental guidance he has issued on the control of tuberculosis at (a) ports and (b) airports;
	(2)  what procedures for the screening of immigrants for pulmonary tuberculosis (a) are carried out and (b) he plans to implement.

Melanie Johnson: Immigration officers are able to refer prospective entrants to the United Kingdom to medical inspectors at UK ports and airports. Long-standing policy is that any person subject to immigration control who:
	mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for coming to the United Kingdom, or appears unwell; or
	is seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months or more and is at high risk of having been exposed to tuberculosis (TB)
	should be referred by the immigration officer to a medical inspector at the port or airport.
	There are three x-ray machines at Heathrow airport and one at Gatwick airport, so that chest x-rays for TB can be carried out there on people referred for medical inspection who are likely to be at high risk of having been exposed to TB. Medical inspectors working at ports of entry are asked to pass details of those that they have examined to the primary care trust (PCT) at their destination address. This enables PCTs to follow up any cases of infection which have been identified, and arrange any necessary testing which it is not possible to undertake at the ports. Anyone who is lawfully in the UK and has TB is able to receive free treatment for it from the national health service.
	The Cabinet Office is currently co-ordinating work between relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Health, to review imported infections and immigration. The review aims to establish the facts about the-impact of immigration on public health and NHS expenditure, consider all relevant issues including health screening and propose solutions should action be required. No decisions have been taken yet.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on levels of immunity to tuberculosis in London.

Melanie Johnson: Uptake levels of BCG vaccine can be obtained from Statistical Bulletin 2003/16, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2003", which is available in the Library and on the Department's web-site at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0316.htm.

Variant CJD

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recipients of (a) blood and (b) blood products derived from donors who subsequently were confirmed to have variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease have been identified.

Melanie Johnson: There have been 15 recipients of blood in England and Wales from donors who were later confirmed as having variant Creutzfeldt Jacob disease (vCJD). Information on the numbers of patients who may have received blood products from donors diagnosed with vCJD is currently not known. The Chief Medical Officer will oversee any further work and investigation that is required.

Waiting Times (Breast Cancer)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics are collated on waiting times for breast cancer patients other than the two-week target for general practitioner urgent referral to first outpatient appointment.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 5 February 2004
	The primary purpose of the NHS Cancer Plan is to save more lives. Reducing waiting times is key to achieving this. For breast cancer, waiting times data is collected and published on: the two week outpatient waiting time standard from urgent general practitioner referral to seeing a specialist; and since 2001, a milestone of a maximum one month from diagnosis with breast cancer to first definitive treatment. From 2002 data has been collected on the further milestone of a maximum two months from urgent general practitioner referral with suspected breast cancer to first definitive treatment. We have made significant progress on both counts. Data on achievement of NHS Cancer Plan waiting times targets are published on the Department's website for strategic health authorities and trusts, at http://www. dh.gov.uk/cancerwaits

Working Time Directive

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications of the Working Time Directive for the work of general practitioners in the Chorley South Ribble Primary Care Trust.

Melanie Johnson: The Working Time Directive (WTD) is an integral part of modernising and improving services at all levels. The majority of general practitioners are self employed and as such are not covered by the WTD.
	Of the smaller number of GPs, those who are fully qualified have been covered by the WTD since 1998, along with other national health service staff. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to monitor the hours worked by those GPs in their employment. This information is not collected centrally.

Yellow/red Cards

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) yellow and (b) red cards have been issued by (i) Barnsley hospital, (ii) Doncaster Royal infirmary and (iii) all south-Yorkshire hospitals in each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Criminal Justice Boards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include representatives of (a) magistrates' and (b) justices' clerks on criminal justice boards.

Paul Goggins: Both the magistracy and the justices' clerks are included in the consultative machinery that each local criminal justice board has set up. There are no plans, however, to include them in the 'core' membership of the boards.

Speed Cameras

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in the Humberside area in the last three years.

Caroline Flint: Information on the revenue raised from speed offences detected by camera is not available.
	However the table shows, for the Humberside police force area, the number of fixed penalties ordered to be paid and the number of court fines for such offences in the calendar years 1999 to 2001 (latest available).
	Information for 2002 will be available in the spring.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(17) , (18) in the Humberside police force area, 1999–2001
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(19) 
			  Number of tickets(20) Estimated revenue (£)(21) Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine 
		
		
			 1999 7,400 296,200 240 22,600 96 
			 2000 15,700 680,500 27 2,600 97 
			 2001(22) 13,600 816,200 15 3,150 210 
		
	
	(17) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(18) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(19) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(20) Paid, i.e. no further action.
	(21) Estimate based on £40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.
	(22) A single month's shortfall was found for court proceedings summary motoring offences within Humberside police force in 2001.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded.

Speed Cameras

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in the last year for which records are available in (a) West Sussex and (b) the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency.

Caroline Flint: Information on the revenue raised from speed offences detected by camera is not available.
	Available information on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid within the Sussex police force area for the offence of "speeding detected by camera" in 2001 is shown in the table. It is not possible from the data collected centrally to identify the County of West Sussex and the constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham within the geographical area of the Sussex police force.
	Information for 2002 will be available in the spring.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(23) in the Sussex police force area, 2001
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(24) 
			  Number of tickets(25) Estimated revenue (£)(26) Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine 
		
		
			 2001 10,900 655,100 720 57,500 80 
		
	
	(23) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(24) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(25) Paid, i.e. no further action.
	(26) 'Estimate' based on £60 penalty charge.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded.

Airwave

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Airwave service to be fully operational within Gwent police force.

Hazel Blears: Gwent is in the process of migrating to full operational use on a division-by-division basis. It is expected that the entire force will be using Airwave by mid-June 2004.

Airwave

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Airwave service will be available on a national basis.

Hazel Blears: The Airwave system will be available to all forces in England, Wales and Scotland by June 2005. It is already available to 31 forces in England and Wales.

Airwave

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he expects the operational benefits to the police of the investment in the Airwave services will be; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Airwave is not simply a replacement for existing police radio systems. In addition to much improved coverage and clearer, more reliable signals there are additional features that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the police service
	Using Airwave, all police officers and police staff will be on the same system, with seamless communications nationally.
	Airwave provides higher capacity than is presently available—allowing, for example, the many users attending a major incident to talk at the same time without overloading the system. Airwave also allows for flexible talk-groups, letting officers develop new ways of working together.
	All Airwave transmissions are encrypted, allowing officers to pass information without criminals being able to eavesdrop.
	Airwave handsets have an emergency button to summon help—improving the safety of both police officers and the public. Airwave also allows simultaneous transmission of voice and data, so that police officers will be able to use their radios to connect to facilities such as the Police National Computer and to file reports without the need to return to their station.

Bribery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions assets relating to bribery of a foreign public official have been confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; and what amounts were confiscated in each case.

Caroline Flint: I understand that the Crown Prosecution Service does not keep records of the nationality of persons who are subject to a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and that to obtain this information would involve disproportionate cost. I also understand that Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have obtained three confiscation orders under the Act, none of which relates to the bribery of a foreign public official.

Bribery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) allegations and (b) reports of bribery of a foreign public official by a UK company or individual have been forwarded to (i) the National Criminal Intelligence Service and (ii) the Metropolitan Police from the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice in the US since 1997; and on what dates they were received.

Caroline Flint: The National Criminal Intelligence Service holds no records of having received from the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice in the US, any allegations or reports of bribery of a foreign public official by a UK company or individual.
	The Metropolitan Police system does not enable reports of this nature to be identified separately.

Camp Hill Prison

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the visits room at Camp Hill prison will be refurbished.

Paul Goggins: Work to improve the visiting facilities at Camp Hill prison is continuing. A painting programme has begun and the heating system has been upgraded.

Carter Report

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact he expects the implementation of the report by Patrick Carter, "Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime", will have on the numbers of prisoners remanded in custody.

Paul Goggins: These issues are currently being considered by the National Offender Management Service Implementation Team.

Consultation

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those individuals and organisations (a) to whom (i) his Department, (ii) its executive agencies and (iii) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultations (A) Safety and Justice: the Government's proposals on domestic violence and (B) Funding community groups: a consultation document issued by the Government's Active Community Unit on behalf of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Resourcing Community Capacity Building, and (b) from whom each received a response in each case.

Fiona Mactaggart: Government are committed to ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are identified and involved in consultation exercises. Our records show that paper or electronic copies of "Safety and Justice" were sent to the following organisations:
	Action for Prisoners' Families
	Age Concern
	Al Khoei Foundation
	Alcohol Concern
	Area Child Protection Committees
	Asian Family Counselling
	Association of Chief Police Officers
	Association of Directors for Social Services
	Association of District Judges
	Association of Magisterial Officers
	Association of Police Authorities
	Audit Commission
	Baha'i Community of the UK
	Baptist Union of Great Britain
	Bar Council
	Barnardo's
	Big Issue Foundation
	Black Association of Women Step Out
	Black Community Development Project
	Board of Deputies of British Jews
	British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine
	British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
	British Association of Social Workers
	British Association of Women Police
	British Humanist Association
	British Medical Association
	British Youth Council
	Buddhist Society
	Burton, Dr. Mandy
	Cardiff Women's Safety Unit
	Centre for Policy Studies
	Chairs of Probation Boards
	Charity Commission
	Chief Constables
	Chief Probation Officers
	Childline
	Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
	Children's Society
	Chinese Information Advice Service
	Christian Scientists
	Church of England General Synod
	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Community and District Nurses Association
	Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
	Confederation of British Industry
	Council of Christians and Jews
	Council of Churches for Great Britain and Northern Ireland
	Council of Circuit Judges
	Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches
	Courts Service of Northern Ireland
	Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and, through them, local domestic violence projects
	Crime Concern
	Crime Reduction Initiatives Head Office
	Crisis
	Crown Court Resident Judges
	Crown Prosecution Service
	Department of Health undertook to inform the Chief Executive of every NHS Trust and Primary Care Trust about "Safety and Justice"
	Directors and Home Office Directors of the Government Offices for England
	Disability Rights Commission
	Domestic Violence Intervention Project
	Employers' Forum on Age
	Employers' Forum on Disability
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Escape Family Support
	Ethnic Minorities Advice Bureau
	Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of West England
	Families Need Fathers
	Family Rights Group
	Family Welfare Association
	Fathers Direct
	Fawcett Society
	Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism
	Free Church Federal Council
	General Medical Council
	General Teaching Council
	Greater London Domestic Violence Project
	Halt Domestic Violence
	Hemat Gryffe Women's Aid
	Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons
	Her Majesty's Prison Service
	Hindu Council of the United Kingdom
	Homeless Link
	House of Commons and House of Lords Vote Office and Library
	Housing Corporation
	Howard League
	Imkaan
	Immigration and Nationality Directorate
	Inner Cities Religious Council
	Institute for Public Policy Research
	Institute of Jainology
	Institute of Legal Executives
	Inter Faith Network for the UK
	Islamic Cultural Centre and the London Central Mosque Trust Ltd.
	Jehovah's Witnesses
	Justice
	Justice Department, Scotland
	Justices' Chief Executives
	Justices' Clerks' Society
	Kelly, Professor Liz
	Kidscape
	Law Society
	Leeds Inter-Agency Project/Leeds Crisis Centre
	Legal Services Commission
	Lesbian and Gay Police Association
	Liberty
	Lilith Project
	Local Government Association
	Lord Chancellor's Domestic Violence Advisory Group
	Lord Chief Justice
	Lucy Faithful Foundation
	Magistrates' Association
	Mankind Initiative
	Marriage Care
	Mencap (England)
	Mencap (Wales)
	Methodist Church
	Metropolitan Police Service Black Police Association
	Mothers' Union
	Muslim Council of Britain
	NACRO
	NACRO Cymru
	National Assembly of Wales
	National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux
	National Association of Head Teachers
	National Children's Bureau
	National College for Schools Leadership
	National Council for Voluntary Organisations
	National Council of Hindu Temples
	National Council of Women of Great Britain
	National Domestic Violence Health Practitioners Forum
	National Domestic Violence Health Research Forum
	National Family and Parenting Institute
	National Housing Federation
	National Probation Directorate
	National Secular Society
	NCH
	Neighbourhood Watch
	Network of Sikh Organisations
	Newspaper Society
	North Surrey Domestic Violence Forum
	Northern Ireland Women's Aid
	NSPCC
	Nursing and Midwifery Council
	Parentline Plus
	Parole Board
	Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group
	Penal Affairs Consortium
	Police Authorities
	Police Federation
	Police Superintendents' Association
	President of the Family Division
	Presiding Judges
	Rainbow Forum
	Rape Crisis Federation
	Rastafarian Society
	Refuge
	Refugee Council
	Relate
	Religious Society of Friends
	Respect
	Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales
	Royal College of General Practitioners
	Royal College of Midwives
	Royal College of Nursing
	Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
	Royal College of Physicians
	Royal College of Psychiatrists
	Sahileya
	Save the Children
	Scottish Women's Aid
	Senior District Judge
	Sentencing Guidelines Council
	Seventh Day Adventist Church
	Shakti Women's Aid
	Sheffield Combined Court Centre
	Shelter
	Sikh Cultural Centre of Great Britain
	Society of Black Lawyers
	Society of Editors
	Solicitors' Family Law Association
	Soroptimist International of GB and Ireland
	South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre
	Southall Black Sisters
	St. Mungo's
	Standing Together Against Domestic Violence
	Stanko, Professor Elizabeth
	Suzy Lamplugh Trust
	Three Faiths Forum
	Trades Union Congress
	Union of Muslim Organisations
	Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations
	Unison
	United Kingdom Men's Movement
	United Reform Church
	Victim Support
	Victim's Voice
	Welsh Women's Aid
	Womankind
	Women's Aid Federation of England
	Women's National Commission
	Women's Institute
	Working with Women
	World Zoroastrian Society
	Many of the above organisations, either on their own initiative or at the prior request of the Home Office, forwarded additional copies across their own distribution networks. A number of copies were also sent to private individuals, while others were distributed at the consultation workshops the Home Office held with domestic violence victims.
	English and Welsh language versions of "Safety and Justice" were also available from the Home Office website. In addition, the Home Office produced—and made available in both paper and electronic format—a summary leaflet, which was also translated into Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Welsh.
	The Home Office received a total of 470 responses to "Safety and Justice". A list of all the organisations that responded can be found in Annex A of the "Summary of Responses to 'Safety and Justice: The Government's Proposals on Domestic Violence'", copies of which are available in the House Library and at: http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/crimpol/crimreduc/domviolence/publist.html.
	A consultation document "Funding Community Groups" was published on 3 May 2001, and just under 7,000 copies were sent to interested groups in the voluntary and community sector, other Government Departments and local authorities. The document was also posted on the Home Office website making it more widely available. The consultation period was from 3 May to 23 July 2001, which included 27 consultation events around the country with a speaker from the Active Community Unit. A total of 235 written responses were received.
	Many groups held their own meetings with local partners and contributed a joint response, 172 were received from respondents representing several organisations and 63 from individual organisations. Therefore, the total number of responses of 235 is representative of a much larger unknown number of organisations and individuals.

Convictions (Balance of Probabilities)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries in (a) the European Union and (b) the rest of the world allow the conviction of suspected offenders on the balance of probabilities.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 5 February 2004
	This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Correctional Services Board

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the implementation team reporting to the Correctional Services Board will be established.

Paul Goggins: On 2 February 2004 Eithne Wallis became the Change Programme Director for the Reducing Crime-Changing Lives reforms and is leading the implementation team. She has already recruited a number of staff and hopes to have the full team in place by the end of February.

Correspondence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his hon. Friend the Minister for Immigration will meet the hon. Member for Leicester, East to discuss the case referred to in the letter dated 22 January.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 11 February 2004.

Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter, reference: PO 17891/3, from the Member for Spelthorne, dated 22 December 2003, regarding Mr.and Mrs.H. Doba, Home Office reference: D 1006253; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: There are matters that need resolving before I can reply to the hon. Member's letter. I expect to be able to write to him by 25 February.

Correspondence

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East of 16 September, 30 October, 30 December 2003 and 8 January 2004 regarding the case of Mr. Shish Jeewa (HO Ref. J1018485).

Beverley Hughes: I replied to my hon. Friend on 10 February 2004.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the crime and disorder partnerships in England and Wales that (a) have and (b) have not had a full inspection; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There is no joint inspection regime for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). However, local authorities and the police, both of which are named as responsible authorities under section 5 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, are subject to independent examination. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is charged with examining and improving the efficiency of the Police Service in England and Wales, and the Audit Commission looks at how well local councils deliver their services under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). Inspections of English district councils include community safety and community cohesion, and from 2005, the Audit Commission propose that this should also form part of the CPA for all councils where it will be covered under the councils' Corporate Assessment.
	Both Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission publish details of the organisations they have inspected on their websites.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) police authorities and (b) local authorities that have not incorporated section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and what measures are open to members of the public if they feel that their local police authority or local authority is failing to implement section 17.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available centrally on local/police authorities that have failed to incorporate section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. However, the Audit Commission looks at how well local councils deliver their services under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). Inspections of English district councils, include community safety with a specific focus on section 17 compliance. From 2005 Safer and Stronger Communities with a similar focus on section 17 compliance will form part of the CPA for all top tier councils where it will be covered under the councils' Corporate Assessment.
	Members of the public could lobby their elected council member (or MP) or appropriate chair of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership or the chair of the Police Authority if they believe their local authority or local police authority was failing to implement section 17.
	They could also approach the Local Government Ombudsman if they have a specific complaint of maladministration.
	They could ultimately undertake a judicial review action with a view to enforcing local/police authority compliance with section 17.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 10 local authorities that have most successfully implemented section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and what measures he has taken to spread best practice.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not presently hold information on the successful implementation of section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 by local authorities. However, the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) will in future address compliance with section 17 across all local authorities. The CPA will therefore provide a clear indication of the level of section 17 compliance throughout England and Wales.
	There are examples of good practice in implementing section 17 that have been identified in publications by Crime Concern, National Association of Care and Resettlement Offenders, the Local Government Association and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, Thematic Inspection on Crime and Disorder entitled "Calling Time on Crime".
	The Government recognises that section 17 has not been universally well implemented and is committed to further raising the profile of section 17 across all relevant stakeholders. We shall also be spreading good practice via the Crime Reduction Website during 2004. We are currently piloting training in section 17 compliance through the Crime Reduction Centre.

Crime and Disorder Partnerships

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the Home Office funding streams available to crime and disorder partnerships in North Wales and (b) the funding stream that have been accessed by each local authority, giving the amounts each local authority has been allocated.

Hazel Blears: Home Office funding streams available to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) in North Wales and the amounts allocated to each in 2003–04 are as follows.
	
		
			 Funding stream CDRP Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Conwy 126,824 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Denbighshire 128,620 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Flintshire 155,071 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Gwynedd 118,904 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Anglesey 81,458 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund Wrexham 176,784 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Denbighshire 20,000 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Flintshire 37,400 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Gwynedd 21,150 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Anglesey 20,000 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Wrexham 25,000 
			 Anti Social Behaviour Funding Conwy 16,930 
			 Domestic Violence funding Split between Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Wrexham 80,250 
		
	
	In addition, the following was allocated to Basic Command Units (BCUs) in North Wales as part of this years BCU funding.
	
		
			 North Wales ForceBasic Command Unit(BCU) CDRPS within BCU area Allocation (£) 
		
		
			 Eastern Flintshire and Wrexham 191,095 
			 Central Conwy and Denbighshire 136,892 
			 Western Anglesey and Gwynedd 99,655

Crime Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the incidence of (a) domestic violence and (b) hate crimes was for each local authority area in North Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: Domestic violence is not separately identified in the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office, therefore the number of incidents of domestic violence in England and Wales are measured by the British Crime Survey (BCS).
	In the 2002–03 BCS there were an estimated 69 incidents of domestic violence, per 10,000 adults in Wales. In the 2001–02 BCS there were 139 incidents of domestic violence, per 10,000 adults in Wales. There are no comparable data for the years preceding 2001–02.
	Within the recorded crime series, 'hate crimes' are deemed to be offences that are racially or religiously aggravated. There are seven separate offences that are classified as racially or religiously aggravated. These are; less serious wounding, harassment, common assault, criminal damage to a dwelling, criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling, criminal damage to a vehicle, and other criminal damage. Racially aggravated offences were added to the series from 1 April 1999, prior to that they would have been included in the original classifications. Religiously aggravated offences were recorded together with racially aggravated offences from April 2002.
	Figures for these offences are not published for local authority areas. However, figures are available at police force area level, and are given in the table. Numbers of racially (or religiously aggravated) offences, recorded by North Wales Police.
	
		
			  Offences recorded 
		
		
			 1999–2000 35 
			 2000–01 108 
			 2001–02(27) 173 
			 2002–03(28) 288 
		
	
	(27) North Wales police adopted the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in October 2001, which was earlier than the national implementation in England and Wales on 1 April 2002. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not comparable with previous years.
	(28) Religiously aggravated offences were recorded together with racially aggravated offences from April 2002.

Driving Convictions

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the criteria to ensure a successful conviction for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 11 February 2004
	A Home Office led review of road traffic offences involving bad driving is in progress. Charging practice in respect of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving has been taken into account during the course of the review. The review is nearing conclusion and will be followed by a public consultation exercise. We hope to publish the consultation paper soon.

Drugs Treatment (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) drug rehabilitation centres, (b) people treated in drug rehabilitation centres and (c) drug rehabilitation centre places there were in Wales in each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures for (a) and (c) are not held centrally and figures for (b) are not available for 1997.
	The Drug Misuse Database, which held records on a calendar year basis, shows 3,358 notified clients in treatment in Wales in 1998 and 5,436 in 1999.
	The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) was launched in April 2001 and is reviewed at the end of every financial year, hence figures are published on a financial year basis. For financial year 2001–02 NTDMS records 7,648 notified clients in treatment in Wales.

Extraditions (Russia)

Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition requests have been made by the Russian authorities in the last five years; and how many have been granted.

Caroline Flint: General extradition arrangements as between the UK and the Russian Federation have been in place since 2001. To date, there have been four Russian requests for extradition. One of those cases is outstanding. None of the other three requests was granted.

Female Prisoners

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pregnant women there are in prison; how many there were in each of the last five years; what policies the Prison Service has in place for the care and treatment of pregnant women; and whether these policies cover (a) dietary requirements, (b) access to showers and (c) requirements for the safe and respectful transfer of pregnant prisoners.

Paul Goggins: Precise information on the number of pregnant women in prison is not available, but recent estimates based on a survey suggest that at any one time about 120 women prisoners are pregnant.
	Prison Service healthcare departments liaise with local NHS midwifery services and antenatal care is normally provided by midwives from the local NHS Trusts. The objective remains that these women have the same access to these services as the local population. The care plan for them will include diet and hygiene provision in line with the NHS policy.
	The escorting procedures for pregnant women is covered by the Prison Service Security Manual and, where a woman's pregnancy is known to a prison, the prison is expected to assess the appropriate means of transport for her. This can involve the use of a private vehicle.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he last met members of the representative bodies for shooting to discuss the future of the Firearms Consultative Committee;
	(2)  when he last met representatives of the police to discuss the future of the Firearms Consultative Committee;
	(3)  which members of the Firearms Consultative Committee have met Home Office Ministers to discuss the committee and its future; and when;
	(4)  what reasons underlay his decision not to consult representatives of shooting associations on the dissolution of the Firearms Consultative Committee;
	(5)  which consultations he undertook with stakeholders before the decision was taken to dissolve the Firearms Consultative Committee.

Caroline Flint: We have not met representative bodies for this purpose. As the Home Secretary announced in his written statement on 30 January, we have decided that it is important to consult on firearms matters on a broader basis than allowed by the statutory provision for the Firearms Consultative Committee.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what penalties are available to magistrates when considering the punishment of those who graffiti.

Paul Goggins: Writing graffiti is an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Where the value of the damage is below £5000 the offender will be tried in a magistrates' court. The offender will then be subject to a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment or a £5,000 fine. If the value of the damage is above £5,000 the offender will be tried in a Crown Court and be subject to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment or an unlimited fine. At either court, community punishment is available for use where the court considers that the offence merits more than a fine but is not sufficiently serious to warrant imprisonment.
	In addition the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 provides for local authorities to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for graffiti and fly posting. This power will be brought into force in March. Offenders will have to pay a £50 penalty or be prosecuted through the courts. Councils already have similar powers to tackle littering and dog fouling.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will propose legislative provisions for magistrates to impose sentences on those who graffiti public and private buildings which involve cleaning up graffiti;
	(2)  if he will introduce the option for magistrates to impose community service orders for those who graffiti.

Paul Goggins: The removal of graffiti is one of the tasks carried out by offenders who are sentenced to community punishment, the new name for community service. Community punishment is a sentencing option available to magistrates when convicting those who graffiti. The work done by offenders on community punishment orders is decided locally within the framework of the national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community. Dedicated litter and graffiti squads exist in a number of probation areas.

Heroin (Criminal Activity)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the costs of criminal activity in connection with heroin use in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Estimates of the costs of drug-related crime are not available annually, nor are they available by individual drug. However, a recent study published by the Home Office provides estimates of the total economic and social costs of Class A drug use and puts these in the range of £10.1 billion to £17.4 billion for the year 2000. The majority of these costs are attributable to heroin and crack cocaine users. The total figure includes the costs of drug-related crime, which are estimated to fall in the range £8.8 billion to £15.8 billion. The costs of drug-related crime include victim costs and those accruing to courts, prisons and other parts of the criminal justice system.

HMP Bronzefield

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when HMP Bronzefield will open.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 9 February 2004
	Her Majesty's Prison Bronzefield is due to receive its first prisoners on 17 June 2004 as specified in the contract.

Home Detention Curfew

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will decide whether to grant a home detention curfew until the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service takes up his appointment on 1 June.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 26 January 2004
	Decisions on whether to grant a prisoner release on home detention curfew are made by prison governors. There will however be exceptional cases where an offender who has successfully passed the risk assessment may be considered unsuitable for Home Detention Curfew (HOC) if to grant HDC would undermine public confidence in the scheme. The Home Secretary has decided that such exceptional cases should be referred to the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service who will take the final decision whether or not to grant HDC.
	Martin Narey was appointed Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service on 6 January 2004. He will deal with all such decisions.

Home Detention Curfew

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been released on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme.

Paul Goggins: The Home Detention Curfew Scheme has been in operation since January 1999. Up to and including 31 December 2003, there have been 86,000 people released on the scheme.

National Offender Management Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will monitor the work of the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, Martin Narey, will be accountable directly to Ministers for reducing re- offending and for the efficient operation of public sector providers.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will answer (a) the Questions with reference numbers 143057 and 143063 tabled by the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 4 December 2003 and (b) Question number 144992, tabled on 15 December 2003;
	(2)  when he will answer the Question, reference no.145030, tabled by the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 15 December 2003.

Fiona Mactaggart: The hon. Member received answers to the questions highlighted above on the following dates: 143057 on 20 January and 144992 on 26 January from my right hon. Friend Beverly Hughes; 143063 on 9 February from my hon. Friend Hazel Blears and 145030 on 10 February from my hon. Friend Paul Goggins.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question reference 145289 on women prisoners tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South on 16 December 2003.

Paul Goggins: I replied to the hon. Member on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1292W.

Police Cells

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prison cells are to be built in Lancashire, broken down by prison.

Paul Goggins: There are plans to build new prison cells at Wymott prison in Lancashire. Building work is in progress and is expected to be completed by mid-2004. There are also proposals to build new prison cells at Garth prison. Planning clearance for this site is currently being sought. The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		
			 Prison Number of new cells to be built Expected date of completion 
		
		
			 Garth 180 2005 
			 Wymott 180 2004

Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on prison resources directed at the rehabilitation of prisoners aged 25 years and under.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not collate information separately on resources directed at rehabilitation for adult prisoners aged 25 and under. The Government have invested extra funds in improving regimes for prisoners and in programmes that will assist rehabilitation and resettlement. These include offending behaviour programmes, drug treatment programmes, education to improve basic and key work skills and the Custody to Work initiative which seeks to increase the number of prisoners getting jobs or education or training places after release.
	In the Spending Review 2000 settlement additional funding of £162 million was allocated over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04 to strengthen work on resettlement and rehabilitation. In addition the funding for education and training for prisoners rose from £57 million in 2001–02 to £66 million in 2002–03 and £97 million in 2003–04.
	The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is responsible for the commissioning and purchasing of all secure accommodation for under 18-year-olds. Under an annual service level agreement between the YJB and the Prison Service, the aim of the juvenile establishments is to provide a full and active day, with 30 hours a week purposeful activity, including good quality education and training provision while in custody. The present level of funding supporting education is approximately £17 million.

Prisoners

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to extend the pilot assessment and treatment programmes at HMP Whitemoor, HMP Frankland, and Broadmoor and Rampton hospitals to other prisons in the UK.

Paul Goggins: We have no plans at present to extend the assessment and treatment programmes to other prisons in the UK. Before any decisions about the future development of services can be taken, more time is needed to evaluate the work of the pilot sites.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) budgeted and (b) expected final costs are for the construction of HM Prison Bromsfield.

Paul Goggins: The prison under construction at Ashford, Middlesex is called HMP Bronzefield.
	The prison is being procured through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Under the PFI process the overall contract price is fixed and includes both current construction and future operational costs. It will be paid back to the contractor as part of a unitary charge payable from when the prison opens in June 2004. It is the contractor who bears the risk of ensuring that its costs do not exceed its budget.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people held in prison are the subject of a deportation order, broken down by sex.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The Prison Service does not record information on deportation orders on the inmate information system. Information on the number of persons held in prison who are the subject of a deportation order is not therefore available except by examination of individual case-files, at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are serving sentences of 12 months or less.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 February 2004
	On 30 November 2003 there were 773 women serving sentences of 12 months or less in prisons in England and Wales.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons are being considered for closure.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office is working on a value for money case for a replacement programme to create a new generation of larger prisons with the facilities needed to deliver effective programmes designed to reduce re-offending. New large prisons could also provide economies of scale, which would allow us to close some smaller prisons and redirect resources to community punishments. This case will be subject of discussion in the forthcoming Spending Review, the outcome of which will be published.
	There is an established procedure for the announcement of decisions to change the role of or close prisons. Once Ministers take a decision to change the role of or close a prison, staff and local MPs affected by the change or closure are briefed before the formal announcement.

Prisons

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that all prisons holding foreign nationals have in place (a) relevant policies and practices and (b) a foreign national co-ordinator employed to address the specific needs of the group of prisoners including (i) pre-release support, (ii) links to home country and family and (iii) procedures to manage deportation or repatriation.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 26 January 2004
	All Prison Service policies are required to have taken account of the needs of minority groups of prisoners including foreign nationals.
	All Prisons have a race relations officers and a race relations management team responsible for the implementation of race relations locally and the fair treatment of ethnic minorities. Some prisons with larger numbers of foreign national prisoners have appointed a member of staff to work specifically to address their needs.
	Pre-release support and links to their home country are managed as part of the normal sentence planning process, which applies to all prisoners serving over 12 months in prison.
	The procedures used to manage deportation or repatriation are the same as those for any foreign national who has been refused entry to this country. The exception to this are the procedures for early departure provided by the Early Removal Scheme, as set out in the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Probation Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees the National Probation Directorate has had in each year since 2000.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 27 January 2004
	The information requested is as follows.
	Precise data prior to 2001 is not available, as the National Probation Directorate (NPD) was not established until April 2001. Records show that there were approximately 100 staff in November 2001, and 202 in November 2002.
	In March 2003, the NPD had 360 employees, and 444 in December 2003. By April 2004 this total will have been reduced to 335.
	The NPD provides a range of support (including finance and estates) to all 42 probation areas. This enables local areas to focus on operational issues and the reduction of reoffending.

R and D

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom his Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments (a) the Department and (b) its agencies have in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office funds research by the department's Research Development and Statistics Directorate, which undertakes a wide range of research supporting the development of policy. There are also a number of directorates who conduct physical science research including the Police Scientific Development Branch. Scientific and social research is also commissioned by the Home Office policy directorates and its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
	The total number of Home Office staff involved in research and development in England and Wales is 1,135. A breakdown of these organisations, the staff numbers and the location of the organisation follows.
	The regions listed in the table correspond to the boundaries of the Government Offices:
	
		
			 Home Office Directorate/Agency Number of staff 
		
		
			 London  
			 Research Development Statistics 436 
			 Communications — 
			 Crime Reduction 2 
			 Correctional Services 10 
			 Immigration Nationality Directorate 21 
			 Forensic Science Service 1 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 5 
			 Security Service — 
			 Police Scientific Development Branch — 
			 Youth Justice Board 2 
			 Police Information Technology Organisation 386 
			 Prison Service 12 
			 Science Policy Unit 8 
			 Dangerous and severe personality disorder programme 2 
			 Total 885 
			   
			 South East  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Police Scientific Development Branch 41 
			 Total 44 
			   
			 South West  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Total 3 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Forensic Science Service 30 
			 Total 33 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Prison Service 6 
			 Total 9 
			   
			 North West  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Criminal Records Bureau — 
			 Total 3 
			 North East  
			 Research Development Statistics 4 
			 Total 4 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humberside  
			 Research Development Statistics 4 
			 Total 4 
			   
			 East  
			 Research Development Statistics 3 
			 Police Scientific Development Branch 143 
			 Total 146 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Research Development Statistics 4 
			 Total 4 
		
	
	Note:
	The numbers of staff given are only those connected with research.

Re-offending

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many offenders serving (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a community service sentence in each year since 1997 reoffended within (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years, (iv) four years and (v) five years of their release;
	(2)  how many young offenders serving (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a community service sentence in each year since 1997 reoffended within (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) three years, (iv) four years and (v) five years of their release.

Paul Goggins: The hon. Member will find the information she is requesting in 'Prison Statistics—England and Wales 2000, 2001, 2002'. One-year and two-year reconviction rates are given. Reconviction rates for three, four and five years for each year since 1997 are not yet available.
	Reconviction rates for offenders serving a community sentence have also been published in the Home Office On Line Report 16/02.
	Reconviction rates for community penalties for the first quarter of 2000 are available in Probation Statistics 2002 published on 21 January 2004. Reconviction rates for three, four and five years for each year since 1997 are not yet available.
	The publications referred to can all be found in the Library.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the results of his Department's review of sexual assault referral centres will be made public.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 6 February 2004
	I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave her on 26 January 2004, Official Report, columns 234–36W.

Somalia

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a warrant for the arrest of Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf, the ruler of Puntland, Somalia.

Caroline Flint: There is no warrant for the arrest of Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf in the UK.

Somalia

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a warrant for the arrest of General Mohammed Hersei Morgan of Somalia, the former Governor of Hargeisa.

Caroline Flint: There is no warrant for the arrest of General Mohammed Hersei Morgan in the UK.

Vehicle Theft

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars were reported stolen in the year for which recent figures are available in the (a) Lancashire Police Authority, (b) Greater London Police Authority and (c) Warwickshire Police Authority areas.

Hazel Blears: The numbers of 'Theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle' offences recorded by the police in 2002–03, are given in the table.
	
		
			 Police force area Offences recorded(29) , (30) 
		
		
			 Lancashire 5,585 
			 London Region(31) 58,739 
			 Warwickshire 2,282 
		
	
	(29) Includes aggravated vehicle taking offences, and attempted theft of vehicles.
	(30) The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced across England and Wales in April 2002. Some police forces adopted the standard prior to this date. The Metropolitan Police and City of London introduced the standard in April 2002, Warwickshire in April 2001, and Lancashire in August 2000. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not comparable with previous years.
	(31) The London region comprises the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police.

Video Links

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to provide video links to prisons for the use of the (a) police, (b) probation service and (c) other services in interviewing prisoners.

Paul Goggins: Police, probation and other services can make local arrangements with prisons to use video link facilities in courts to interview prisoners, providing the technology is not being used for pre-trial hearings at that time.
	Records on the use of video links for purposes other than pre-trial hearings are not held centrally. However, prisons are encouraged to make full use of any spare capacity within the video links system, and to liaise with police, probation and other services to ensure its effective use.
	The Prison Service Video Links Enhancement Project has been set up with the aim of maximising the use of existing video link facilities, and to consider activities where the use of this technology will either improve performance or reduce costs.

Young Offenders

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the use of special cells for young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Prison Service Order 1600 sets out the regulations that govern the use of special accommodation for all offenders.
	The definition of special accommodation is:
	(i) A cell which has been designated as a special cell; or
	(ii) An unfurnished cell: a cell which is designated and usually used for ordinary accommodation purposes but from which the usual furniture has been removed and which is either totally unfurnished or does not contain basic items of furniture such as a table and a chair.
	Special accommodation may be used for the temporary confinement of a violent or refractory prisoner, but only if its use:
	(i) Is necessary in order to prevent the prisoner causing self-injury, injuring another prisoner or staff, or damaging property, or creating a disturbance; and
	(ii) Has been properly approved (ie No prisoner shall be placed in special accommodation except on the prior authority of the Governor/Controller in charge).
	A prisoner must not be confined in special accommodation as a punishment and, as soon as the original justification for the use of the special accommodation has ceased, the prisoner must be moved from that accommodation. If a prisoner refuses to move from special accommodation and his/her behaviour is such as to require the continued use of special accommodation, then special accommodation may continue to be used.
	There are no specific rules governing the use of special accommodation for young offenders generally. Rule 51 of the YOI Rules allows temporary confinement in a special cell to be used for juveniles (under 18s).

Young Offenders

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have been kept in solitary confinement for over (a) a day, (b) two days, (c) three days, (d) four days, (e) five days, (f) six days and (g) a week in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not restrain prisoners in 'Solitary Confinement'. Prisoners and Young Offenders can either be subject to segregation procedures, or they can be held in 'Special Accommodation' (special cells or unfurnished cells).
	The Prison Service does not centrally monitor the use of segregation.
	The forms used to authorise the use of Special Accommodation are in the process of being reviewed, along with a general review of the policy on Use of Force. Unfortunately, the current forms require very little detail about individual incidents, and therefore there are no data for how long prisoners and young offenders have been held in special accommodation. However, very few prisoners are held in special accommodation for periods exceeding 24 hours.
	The following table therefore shows the total number of young offenders who have been held in special accommodation for the years for which figures are currently available.
	
		Number of young offenders restrained in Special Accommodation 1997–2002
		
			  Males Females Total All types of establishments 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 194 31 225 2,836 
			 1998 270 4 274 2,557 
			 1999 317 29 346 2,223 
			 2000 447 8 455 2,215 
			 2001 372 43 415 2,778 
			 2002 264 17 281 2,245

Young Offenders

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the longest period of time that a young offender has been in solitary confinement is since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not restrain prisoners in 'Solitary Confinement'. Prisoners and young offenders can either be subject to segregation procedures, or they can be held in 'Special Accommodation' (special cells or unfurnished cells).
	The length of time that young offenders are held in special accommodation is not collated centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders from Wales were placed in special cells at youth prisons in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Information on the origin of young offenders who are placed in special cells could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Workers' Compensation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the employers he has met to discuss his proposals to make them responsible for compensating their workers who are injured in the course of duty.

Paul Goggins: Home Office officials from the Victims Unit and the Strategic Policy Team will be meeting the Confederation of British Industries shortly, and are arranging meetings with employers and other parties with an interest in the 'course of duty' proposals set out in the consultation paper 'Compensation and Support for Victims of Crime' published on 12 January.